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Cass Park celebrates 50 years
Community members skated in the enclosed arena for the first session of the season
The Cass Park ice rink has been a staple in the Ithaca community since 1972. The rink was covered but not enclosed until this year through the "Enclose Cass Park Campaign" that started in 2016. (Photo by Caroline Grass/Ithaca College)
By Caroline Grass
November 7, 2022
Community members of all ages attended the 50th birthday party for Cass Park on November 5, 2022, and skated on the newly enclosed rink with no fear of condensation dripping or melting ice --- which were just two problems that used to impact the rink every year.
Cass Park has a rink, pool, 32 athletic fields, two playgrounds, four tennis courts and trails for the community to use. The park, rink and pool are programs run by the Ithaca Youth Bureau (IYB) which is a department of the City of Ithaca that serves 7,500 youth annually. The IYB Recreation Department runs a variety of programs year-round including sports and music lessons, summer camps and creative arts and theater classes.
The Ice Rink was built in 1972 and was covered, but not fully enclosed. The Friends of the Ithaca Youth Bureau started an "Enclose Cass Park Campaign" in 2016 to help improve ice conditions and allow for a longer skating season.
Liz Klohmann, director of the IYB, spoke during a ceremony at the event and talked about the memories Cass Park holds for all who have skated there.
"Today, celebrating 50 years and the newly enclosed rink, we've come a long way since 1972," Klohmann said.
Klohmann talked about stories from past employees who recounted snowy days where skating could feel like skiing as inches of snow accumulated on the rink or how there was always a possibility of falling in puddles on the ice when warmer weather came.
"[Now], what we don't have is condensation dripping on the ice, we don't have fog," Klohmann said. "We don't have Dixie Dup sized mountains of ice that Jim and his crew are by hand chipping down to get the ice ready."
Above: Children and adults skate during the celebration event. Right: Friends help each other tie the laces on their skates before going out on the ice. (Photos by Caroline Grass/Ithaca College
Fundraising and planning for the enclosure project involved multiple partners and collaboration for the last six years. The Friends of the IYB raised approximately $475,000, two state grants accounted for over $820,000 and the City of Ithaca initially authorized $3,352,700 for the project.
The project only received one bid each for heating ventilation and air conditioning, electric and general construction which were higher than estimated costs according to a letter from Tim Logue, director of engineering for the city, to the City Administration Committee.
To fully fund the project the city authorized an additional $400,000 bringing the total to $3,752,700 according to an amendment of the Capital Project.
Patrick Mehler, 4th Ward Alderperson on the Common Council, talked about the process for funding and constructing large projects like this.
Construction at the rink started in May 2022 and finished this fall.
Community member Renata Dabrowska has lived in Ithaca since 2001. Dabrowska and her son Marco talked about some of the issues the rink had and how they think the enclosure will help. They also talked about how their family uses the many programs Cass Park and the IYB have to offer.
The skating season will run from October through March and skating lessons and free skate session tickets can be bought on the city's CommunityPass website. In the off-season the rink is used for roller skating.
As families eagerly checked their raffle ticket numbers as prizes were announced, snacked on popcorn and concession stand items or skated around the rink during the celebration, Mehler talked about why he feels it is important to have places like Cass Park where community members can come together and recreate.