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Residents and nonprofit outline plans for refrigerated rink and free skiing for Lake County students
Summary
Public comment included a resident request for a refrigerated, covered hockey rink and a presentation from Follow the Footsteps Epic Adventures announcing free skiing for fourth‑ and fifth‑graders on Dec. 12 and 19 as part of a new program with Ski Cooper.
During the public‑comment portion of the meeting, residents and nonprofit representatives asked the board to support expanded winter recreation and described a new county school skiing program.
Karen Lenda (public comment) said a refrigerated rink with a cover would allow an organized hockey team to use the facility for most of the year and would be safer than an open rink where skaters and hockey pucks mix. “I want a refrigerated rink with the cover so that we could have a hockey team and have a hockey rink for most of the of the year,” Lenda said, adding the facility could be safer for players and other skaters.
Mike Matheson, representing Follow the Footsteps Epic Adventures, told commissioners the nonprofit is expanding its mission to offer mainstream skiing and will provide free skiing for all fourth‑ and fifth‑grade students in the Lake County School District on Friday, Dec. 12, and Friday, Dec. 19. Matheson said the program will include transportation, ski lessons, a ski ticket and lunch; the group budgeted about $12,000 for the effort, which works out to roughly $48 per student for the planned participants. “Starting this year, we’re going to offer all fourth and fifth graders at Lake County School District free skiing,” Matheson said.
Matheson said the program will include adaptive instruction for students with disabilities and that the organization has contracted with Ski Cooper for rental gear and technical support. He estimated the group will approach roughly 130–135 students for sign‑ups over the next two months. Matheson said the group did not budget the program for the 2025–26 season and has re‑budgeted for 2026–27, and that their goal is to establish a funding mechanism so another organization could sustain the program in the future.
Board members thanked the speakers and invited them to continue conversations with county staff about potential support and planning; no formal board action was taken on either request during the meeting.
