Portable ice rink coming to Village of Homer

The Village Green in the Village of Homer, where the impending portable ice rink will be located. (Photo Source: Village of Homer).

The Village of Homer Board of Trustees on Tuesday approved a grant from the Cortland Community Foundation to bring a portable ice rink to the Village Green.

The rink would cost anywhere from $10,000 to $11,000, according to Village Mayor Hal McCabe. The grant accepted by the board, he added, is approximately $5,000.

“This is the kind of thing that would bring people downtown. It is a great thing,” McCabe said. “I think it is going to bring back skating on the Village Green. Sometimes the weather doesn’t seem cold as much, but this will allow a lot more skating days.”

Board member Ed Finkbeiner said the remainder of the cost could be covered by American Rescue Plan funds.

“We could also look to the community or some of the local businesses for donations the way we did with the basketball hoops,” McCabe added.

The rink, the mayor said, is not maintenance-heavy and can be set up in about 30 minutes.

“It doesn’t make its own ice, but it keeps the water contained,” he said. “We won’t have to send in anyone in there with a hose to refill it every time.”