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Resident urges investment in ice-making equipment, not smaller rink
Summary
At the April 9 Skagway Recreation Board meeting resident Michael Yee urged the municipality to prioritize ice quality — recommending debris barriers, daily resurfacing and purchase of a small ice-resurfacing machine — and warned that shrinking the rink would not fix core problems.
Michael Yee, a Skagway resident, told the Skagway Recreation Board on April 9 that preserving a full-size outdoor ice rink depends on improved ice-making technique and equipment rather than reducing rink size.
Yee, speaking during the citizen comment period, said: "The most important factor in a successful ice rink is, unsurprisingly, the quality of the ice." He described this season as "one of the most challenging I've seen" and listed steps he believes would improve conditions: installing barriers to reduce windblown dust, daily resurfacing, faster snow removal and acquiring better resurfacing equipment.
Why it matters: The board and staff said the rink is heavily used by children and adults and that a short natural-ice season concentrates demand. Yee told the board that shrinking the rink would "simply result in less usable space without necessarily improving the ice" and that the community values a full-size surface for simultaneous activities.
Board and staff response was positive. Recreation Director Jason Burag said he "completely agree[d] with every single word you said," reported earlier attempts to block windblown grit with a mesh net that failed, and acknowledged staff learning during the first season of running the rink. Burag described operational changes and new equipment the rec center has acquired — including a new resurfacing mop and a UTV with a plow — and said staff now better understand how flooding technique and equipment affect quality.
Yee suggested buying a small Zamboni-style resurfacer rather than spending limited funds on permanent boards around the rink. He noted that buying boards for $20,000–$30,000 would not address the root problem; a resurfacer both cleans and lays water. The board discussed the possibility and expressed interest in exploring options.
Board discussion also touched on protecting murals near the rink. A board member recommended a paint-on boat sealer (Valspar) as a lower-cost way to protect artwork from incidental damage by snow removal equipment.
The director and several board members said they will recruit volunteers for ice maintenance and look for low-cost, short-term fixes (plywood or plexiglass along fence lines) before the next winter. Michael Yee offered his time as a volunteer.
Ending: The board will include rink improvements among items to consider when reviewing recreation grant applications this spring and indicated it will advertise the availability of municipal recreation funds to community groups.
