The Ashland Ice Rink Will Be Renovated Top and Toe

ASHLAND, Ore — The Ashland Rotary Centennial Ice Rink is scheduled for a top-and-toe facelift – on top, the ice rink will sport a new canopy and, at the bottom, a new chiller will be installed to ensure that the ice remains dry and compacted.

The Facelift will Cost $300,000

The $300,000 project will replace existing equipment that could fail because of old age. In the meantime, the ice rink is scheduled to open on November 23 for the Christmas season before closing again on February 17, 2025, when the facelift will begin.

According to Ashland Parks and Recreation director Rocky Houston, the existing chiller will hopefully continue to keep the ice cold throughout the Christmas season after some routine maintenance work. The chiller has been in operation since the ice rink opened in 1996.

Houston says there are plans to erect a permanent structure over the ice rink – this will eliminate the need to reinstall the canopy every year, offering a saving on overheads.

How the Chiller Creates the Ice Cap

The rink is on a concrete slab. At the start of the season white butcher paper is laid on the slab and the chiller then pumps subzero food-grade glycol through tubes set in the concrete. The paper reflects UV light, and the chiller manufactures up to three inches of ice for the skating surface.

Ashland Recreation Manager Lonny Flora says while the chiller has served a full life, it could fail at any moment, signaling the abrupt end of the season. However, Flora says recent tests indicate that the chiller is still capable of holding good pressure.

Warmer temperatures during the winter can cause problems at the ice rink – Flora says that Thanksgiving opening is particularly challenging because warm temperatures make it difficult for the chiller to create a decent ice-cap cover. Flora adds that wind and humidity are also factors affecting the formation of the ice.

Protective Canopy has Outlived its Heyday

The white canopy offering skaters shelter from the skies was installed 11 years ago and has also outlived its heyday.

Flora says a Portland construction crew erects aluminum beams and reinstalls the canopy every year. However, wear and tear has taken its toll and Flora says installation has become increasingly time-consuming and finicky. The previous canopy was badly damaged in a windstorm.

The canopy shields the ice cap of the rink from debris that could adversely impact skaters.

Ashland sets aside $54,000 annually for maintenance of the ice rink, while a further $104,000 has been set aside for temporary staff and other miscellaneous expenses.

Attendance Figures Have Declined Post-Pandemic

The Ashland Rotary Centennial Ice Rink has suffered declining support in the post-pandemic years. During the 2021-22 season, the rink attracted an estimated 21,021 visitors. This figure, however, dropped to an estimated 15,863 in 2022-23 with a further decline to 14,778 in 2023-24.

It is difficult for authorities to record accurate attendance figures because visitors who bring their own skates have free access during set times, while parents often accompany their children, but do not themselves take to the rink. Flora says attendance figures were ‘solid’ until the pandemic.