Left to right,Dennis Peppard, Layla Karnes, Audrie Peppard, and Valentina Juricek showed up for a press conference that announced a 1.3 acre site at Girsh Park was donated to the Greater Santa Barbara Ice Skating Association for a permanent ice rink in Goleta. All four of the kids currently have to travel to Oxnard to ice skate. Photo by Victor Maccharoli.
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Ice rink has dirt, now needs money
Boys clutching beat up hockey sticks and little girls wearing pink leotards with ice skates on their feet joined Goleta city officials yesterday to celebrate the donation of a 1.3-acre dirt lot behind the Camino Real Marketplace that could soon be home to an ice skating rink.
Developer Mark Linehan donated the land to the Greater Santa Barbara Ice Skating Association, a nonprofit that has attempted to get ice on Santa Barbara soil for years.
And, as it turns out, so has Linehan, who said he had a parking lot paved next to the lot a decade ago in the hopes that it would one day be home to an ice rink.
“We built this parking lot 10 years ago for one purpose,” he told the crowd of about 50 ice lovers on hand, “an ice rink.”
The announcement conveniently arrived on the heels of the Winter Olympic Games, which every four years shines a bright light on many ice sports that are typically obscure to many Americans.
This wasn’t lost on Goleta Mayor Eric Onnen, who noted that Olympic dreams could soon be incubated beneath the South Coast’s unrelenting sunny skies.
“This is a typical beautiful day in winter in Goleta,” Onnen said. An ice rink “will give an opportunity for young people and old people to experience recreational opportunities that we wouldn’t normally have.”
Many South Coast residents haven’t let a lack of ice stand in their way of pursuing ice sports. Rebecca Karnes drives her 4-year-old daughter, Layla Karnes, to Oxnard four times each week to hone her figure skating skills.
“Forty-minute drive each way,” said Rebecca Karnes, who had her daughter’s tiny ice skates draped over her shoulder. “That’s a lot of time lost; less time on the ice.”
Asked what she thought of the possibility of an ice rink in Goleta, Kayla said, “I love to skate.”
NHL Hall of Famer Luc Robitaille, who is involved with ice rinks and hockey organizations across Southern California, and is on the advisory board of the local skating association, was in attendance and even signed a few hockey pucks.
He too remarked on the importance of providing an ice rink to local children who now have to spend hours in the car to get on ice.
“They can have their own local rink,” he said.
Aside from providing another avenue for physical fitness, hockey fans often note the quality of the sport, especially its team aspects. “It is a great sport,” Robitaille said. “Hockey is one of the greatest team sports out there.”
Although the Greater Santa Barbara Ice Skating Association hasn’t been aggressively fundraising, $2.2 million has already been pledged to build the rink. Officials estimate the total cost at about $8 million, although the economic downturn could produce more favorable bids.
Kathy Mintzer, the association’s president, said once $4 million has been raised, permits will be pulled. At $6 million, she said dirt will start moving at the site, which is valued at $1.3 million.
Preliminary plans call for a 44,000 square-foot facility with two ice surfaces. The main ice surface would be designated for public skating sessions, figure skating, ice dancing and hockey competitions. The second surface would be available for skating lessons and smaller events. The site is directly behind the marketplace on Santa Felicia Drive.
Mintzer said design work could begin trickling through the city’s planning process by the end of this year, and if all goes well with the fundraising effort, which has been aptly dubbed “Ice in Paradise,” construction could commence by mid 2011.
But if it were up to many of those who attended the celebration, construction would start on the ice rink today.
“I think these kids would have come with their shovels today,” Linehan said.
More information about the project can be found at www.iceinparadise.com.
Comment on this article
Ice in Paradise, Move to Alaska : 3/6/2010
I know this struggle has been going on for such a long time but I can't help wonder why this is a priority at all. In case no one has noticed our infrastructure, including our public education system, is crumbling. Mentally ill people are on the streets uncared for and all these mommies and daddies are all crying into a beer at the local brewery because they don't have "ice" in paradise. Oh boo hoo.
Mrs. Nicely
Mrs. Nicely: : 3/6/2010
You don't even make any sense. Opposing something recreational for children? This skating rink is one more thing that adds to the "paradise" nature of Santa Barbara. Why don't YOU stop doing anything fun because you've got all these problems on your mind?
Mrs Nicely - Drunk? : 3/7/2010
Ok, let's entertain this lush for a second. You complain about public education and roads, where in the article does it talk about public funding for this? Seriously, you're an idiot, do the world a favor and off yourself. Try a bottle of sleeping pills chased with Drano.
Other than this delusional chick's opinion, I can't wait for this to finally open. I remember when they were developing Camino Real and there was talk of an ice rink, I'm stoked to finally see it happen.
Mrs Nicely's Been PWNED
rink will benefit the community : 3/7/2010
As a former national level competitor in roller figure skating, I was disappointed with the decline of both roller and ice skating in this area back in the 80's. Today, I find the possibility of an ice rink coming to Goleta to be exciting. If managed properly, an ice rink could be a major asset to the community. The rink could host public sessions, skating shows, social events, fund raisers, broom ball, private parties,and training and competitions in figure skating, hockey and short track speed skating. Activities at the rink may atleast keep some kids from becoming obese or getting in with the wrong crowd. The rink would also provide a fun recreation and exercise venue for people of all ages and backgrounds; and since it's indoors, it won't matter if it's day or night or if the weather is bad. In response to that "move to Alaska" wise cracker, I realize our community is facing many serious problems, but this rink will not be funded by the city, county or government. Fixing all of society's problems is a monumental task; however, a local ice rink can be a small piece of the puzzle by stimulating the local economy. It will benefit the community in a positive way. And hey! For some locals the delema of what to do on Friday and Saturday night might even be solved. I give Ice In Paradise a big thumbs up!
Edmund A. Geswein
donations : 3/8/2010
There is large needs in our community but if people want to donate to this project instead of another that is there choice.
citizen
: 3/8/2010
The rink is open to anybody. I'm sure there will be groups of "at-risk youth" taken there for trips. Don't worry.
: 3/11/2010
Maybe a teenager or preteen who is involved in the wrong crowd will go to the rink and find it kinda fun. And maybe they will want to go again instead of hang out with their drug-using crowd. And maybe this ice skating will turn into their passion, and now their spare time after school and on weekends is spent at the rink instead of on the streets with the wrong crowd. There is no down side to this rink.
For the kids : 3/16/2010
While I appreciate Mrs. Nicely's comments, I would point out that there are a number of non-profit organizations that are working on solving some of the very vexing issues that she brings up.
The Greater Santa Barbara Ice Skating Association is trying to provide a safe, welcoming place where the youth of our community can spend time, practice, have fun and otherwise stay out of trouble.
The great majority of people we have spoken to agree that there are simply not enough "things" for young people to do in town.
I also appreciate everyone else's comments and would love to see any footage of Mr. Geswein's professional roller figure skating!!! Maybe we can post it up on our Facebook page? http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ice-in-Paradise-Greater-Santa-Barbara-Ice-Skating-Association/133612742116
Dan Sweeney
Seasonal Ice Skating Rink : 6/22/2010
Our company builds seasonal outdoor ice skating rinks for the holidays. Santa Barbara would be a perfect location for one of our rinks until a year-round facility can be built. I have been sending e-mails and letters to the Greater Santa Barbara Ice Skating Association for years with no response....anybody know how I can get in toucb with them?
See who we are at www.icerinkevents.com
Dave Fies
Contact Us!
411 E. Canon Perdido, Ste 2
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Phone (805) 564-6001
Fax (866) 716-8350
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