2024-2025 Season Renovations
Conceptual roof design
This fall, the existing site was cleared with the assistance of numerous volunteers. The Skatium then purchased a flexible rink systemwhich contains a heavy plastic liner that, it is hoped, will retain the water during the inevitable thaws. The decision was made to install two rinks to improve functionality and safety: a half size stick and puck ink for those who like to play hockey and a free skate rink. In addition, the building that used to house the office suffered from being in a wet lowland, and so a decision was made to move the office to the building which used to serve as the dressing rooms. The right half of the building has been refitted as an office, while the left half will serve as a place where skaters can put on their skates. The stairs and walkway had to be rebuilt, and material was brought in to fix the road. The Skatium also invested in all new skates, a new skate sharpener and new music sound system. An area to the side of the building has also been cleared to allow for a fire pit.
Phase 1 - Maximize ice time [COMPLETE]
This phase installs a temporary EZ Ice rink which can be assembled and disassembled as we progress through future phases. With dasher boards and a poly liner, we will be able to retain water through winter thaws and estimate being able to open at least three to five times as many days as past winters. In this phase we will also complete the engineering design and permitting necessary to proceed to later phases.
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Soil analysis ($19,000) completed
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Demolition and removal of existing dasher boards*
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Remove old refrigeration chiller and tubes ($1,000)
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Level current surface*
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Purchase and assembly of EZ rink ($44,000)
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Purchase new fleet of rental skates ($6,500)
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Install new sign ($2,500 est)
Total Estimate: $74,200
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*Assumes volunteer support
Ideal Next Phase - Cover the ice
Everyone who has been to the SKATIUM talks about how great it would be to have a roof over the rinks to protect it from sun and snow. The SKATIUM Board certainly agrees and have spent countless hours discussing how to achieve this vision. Unfortunately, to date the engineers who have reviewed our soil analysis have not found a roof design that will work on our wetland soil. Note - bedrock was not found even at a depth of 80ft! We will continue to research options and we are open to ideas from community experts. Feel free to email ideas to info@skatiumvt.org.
Alternative solutions could include relocation to a more suitable site. This was part of the reason the 2025 renovations included a rink system that could be disassembled and reassembled fairly easily.