Tue Mar 16 2010
by Laura Freeman
Reporter
Hudson -- A resident is more than halfway to raising enough funds to add an ice rink to downtown this winter.
Connie Motter, who presented the idea of an ice rink on the First & Main Green to Council in September, received a grant from the Burton D. Morgan Foundation to help cover the $4,200 price tag for a 65-by-75-foot portable ice rink from NiceRink in Wisconsin.
Council members supported her idea, but said it was up to Motter to spearhead the fundraising and gather support for the
project.
The Burton D. Morgan Foundation on Nov. 5 approved a dollar for dollar matching challenge grant up to $2,100 for the city of Hudson to purchase a liner and equipment to create the rink.
Motter said she had other resources to ask for funding, but doesn't think that will be necessary now. Randy Baun of Jake's Good Life has pledged $1,000, and Hudson Community First pledged $250, she said.
Motter said if she gets more than $2,100, the money will be kept in an ice rink fund for hidden costs or to bring the rink back next year.
"If it goes over really well, we can add features such as skate rentals or lighting around the rink," Motter said.
Motter got the idea for a downtown rink after taking her daughter to ice rinks in Cuyahoga Falls and Akron.
"If I hadn't taken her to recreational rinks, I wouldn't have known she loved to ice skate," Motter said. "I grew up here in this area and skated all winter long, but my kids haven't done it that much."
Motter said the ice rink is for everyone, but as a health care worker, she told Council members that children between 6 and 11 are at highest risk for obesity and could use the exercise.
"I know how important it is to get children out in the winter," Motter said. "It's something fun to do. My kids love to go downtown with their friends and look for something to do together."
Although stakes will be placed in the ground before it freezes, the rink wouldn't be assembled until a cold streak, most likely at the end of the December, Motter said.
"We want to make a big event of the day," Motter said.
Checks for any amount should be made to the City of Hudson by Dec. 4 with "ice rink" in the memo line and mailed to City of Hudson, attention Jody Roberts, 27 East Main St., Hudson, OH 44236.
For more information, contact Roberts at 330-342-9539.
E-mail: lfreeman@recordpub.com
Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3150
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