Conditions at the Cranston Ice Rink have sparked debate
By Ana Bottary
abottary@abc6.com
@anabottary
The Veterans Memorial Ice Rink is home to a range of programs in Cranston. They include, free skate and hosting practices and games for youth programs, like the Edgewood Rhode Island Hockey Association. During the last city council finance committee meeting, the league expressed the rink conditions are not up to par and Council President John Lanni agrees.
"There were about five or six people from that league who voiced their opinion about how bad the rink was as far as disrepair. I was fortunate enough earlier that week a tour of the rink, and I can honestly say I do not disagree with them,"says Lanni.
Lanni says outside the building he noticed debris and barrels scattered and says what he saw inside makes him question health risks.
"I noticed there were black spots on the wall throughout the building. I don’t know if it is mildew or mold," he says.
We took a look at the black spots, as we walked through the ice rink with Director of Administration for the Mayor, Robert J. Coupe.
"I am not aware of any mold in the building, but since the question was raised we will have it tested to see if there is mold,"says Coupe.
Coupe says the statements made at the meeting, were inaccurate and misleading. He says as far as cleanliness goes, the facility is fully staffed and open 7-days a week adding, some days there are hundreds of people coming through the doors.
"That is hundreds of people using this public facility within a short period of time and I’m sure it gets dirty but I know it gets cleaned,"he adds.
Coupe says a group, who has some of the same leadership as Edgewood Hockey has responded to a bid request to lease the ice rink from the city.
However, those negotiations have been going on for more than a year and a half. Lanni feels it would be a smart move, because the league uses 70 percent of the ice time and have invested interest in the rink to put the work that needs to be done, into it.
(c) WLNE-TV 2016
