Many cool people helped ice rink this year

The Friends of Kelly Rink has just concluded its 10th and most successful ice skating season at the Temporary Kelly Rink on Marbury Terrace. Kim Wheeland directed our eight-week US Figure Skating Learn to Skate program that taught 129 children and adults how to skate. We rented thousands of pairs of skates at $1 for children and $2 for adults. Hundreds of local teenagers adopted the rink as their winter recreation spot. We are working with Urban Edge, the Partners for Jackson, other interested community groups and our elected officials to bring a state-of-the-art indoor skating rink to Jamaica Plain and Roxbury.

We want to publicly thank everyone at the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) who made this successful skating season possible. Rink Managers Ernest Coston and Harold Thomas were dedicated to making sure the rink had good ice and was a safe place for our youths. DCR Commissioner Rick Sullivan, Regional Director Karl Pastore, Supervisor Paul Hickey and Southwest Corridor Director Tom Yovicsin helped us cut through the red tape and provided the resources to keep the rink functioning smoothly.

We also want to thank state Sen. Dianne Wilkerson for being a leader in securing improvements at the present temporary rink and seeking funding for a permanent rink.

Our skate rental trailer is operated in cooperation with Jeff Ferris of Ferris Wheels Bike Shop. Max Lee, who has his own bike shop, Mel’s Hyde Park Bike Shop, was the manager of the rental trailer. With the able assistance of Cassandra Hernandez, Max made a cramped space fill the needs of up to 390 skaters a day with his calm and professional demeanor.

Financially, as it has since our founding in 1997, the Mary Cronin Stone Trust has been our most generous and loyal supporter. We are also excited to be receiving our first donation from the Boston Bruins Foundation.

We raised over $8,000 from local businesses and individuals to support our programs. We would to thank our sponsors: Ace Hardware City, Boston Building Materials Cooperative, Brookside Community Health Center, City Feed and Supply, Classic Cleaners, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, Diaz Foreign Car Specialists, Tom O’Malley for the Kevin Fitzgerald Memorial, Fresh Hair, The JP Gazette, Clerk of Criminal Court Maura Hennigan, Hyde Square Task Force, Just Small Jobs, Knights of Columbus, Rep. Liz Malia, Mike’s Fitness, Mann and Rodgers, Morrison’s Auto-Rite, JPNDC, The Power Company, Regan Youth League, Roxbury Highland Bank, Rep. Jeffrey Sánchez, Sorella’s, Southern JP Community Health Center, Spontaneous Celebrations, Stanley Services, City Councilor John Tobin, Ula Café, Urban Edge and Yumont Hardware.

We look forward to seeing everyone back on the ice next winter.

Ginny Clifford
Mike Frank
Steve Glickel
Friends of Kelly Rink

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