Rink site vollied about
Multiple players collaborate on multi-use 'sports-plex'By GEORGE EARL, Enterprise Staff Writer
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LAKE PLACID - Town and village officials have not yet decided where to put a $400,000 outdoor ice rink that Ironman USA offered as a gift to Lake Placid in June, but they said they are confident about finding an appropriate location soon.
The "sports-plex" was given in honor of the community's support of the Ironman triathlon and could be used in summer months for multi-use play, including tennis and basketball. Hockey accessories including netting, goal frames and scoreboards are included in the gift along with a tractor, Zamboni and other ice-maintenance equipment.
The municipalities would be responsible for labor involved with maintaining the rink and the electricity needed to operate outdoor lights and chillers that keep the ice hard on warmer days.
One concern in the original site plan presented by Graham Fraser, CEO of NA Sports and Ironman USA, was that its proposed location on one of the tennis courts beside Mirror Lake would interfere with tennis play. However, after a meeting on Aug. 6 that brought the Lake Placid Central School District and state Olympic Regional Development Authority into discussions, officials now say they are optimistic that they can work together to find a solution that benefits school children, hockey and tennis players, and the community at large.
Lake Placid Central School Superintendent Jim Donnelly said the district has been given a separate endowment to build several tennis courts. The gift came from a family in the community that presently wishes to remain anonymous.
"When Graham Fraser made his overture to build the sports-plex, we sat down to work out a joint solution," Donnelly said. "We're in the problem-solving stage at this point and are seeing how both opportunities can be solved in conjunction with one another."
Donnelly said locations both on and off the school's campus are being considered and that he hoped a game plan would be put in place by next week.
"We are waiting for feedback from an architectural firm to provide a rough sketch of feasibility and are hoping to reach a green light to go forward soon," he said.
Town of North Elba Supervisor Roby Politi and Lake Placid Mayor Jamie Rogers also said they were hopeful that a follow-up meeting next week would produce a more definite plan of action.
Donnelly said the gifts are an opportunity for the community to collaborate to improve the health and quality of life of the public.
Contact George Earl at 891-2600 ext. 25 or gearl@adirondackdailyenterprise.com.
