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Paul Kafka-Gibbons submitting comments re: Veterans Memorial Rink operating hours.
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Dear Mayor Curtatone, Rink Manager Teeves, Recreation Superintendant Halloran, and City of Somerville Aldermen:
I hope you are all having an excellent holiday season.
I am writing to thank you for the use of the beautifully restored Veterans Memorial Rink, and to ask you for more public skating, especially after school. At the moment the rink schedule looks like this:
Monday - 12:00pm - 1:50pm
Wednesday - 12:00pm - 1:50pm
Friday - 12:00pm - 1:50pm
Sunday - 2:00pm - 3:50pm
Notice that, on weekdays, there are no after-school skating hours. How are our kids supposed to learn to skate and to enjoy the beautiful rink? This is especially important since we are trying to encourage our kids to exercise more, and there aren’t a lot of options in the winter.
Another problem is that the Sunday public skating times are often cancelled.
I’ve looked at nearby towns and it is not standard practice to rent out the rink during public skating hours. I understand that Somerville gains revenue by renting the rink for birthday parties and other events, but at what cost to our children? Usually, rental is only available at times other than public skating hours.
Now that we have our rink, we need to do a little Zamboni work on our policies.
Thank you and have a good holiday.
Paul Kafka-Gibbons
1 Fairmount Avenue 02144
PS I will be circulating this letter to friends, who may offer their own suggestions.