By William Crooks

Local Journalism Initiative

North Hatley’s long-debated ice rink project will remain in River Park after the town announced a breakthrough that avoids previous engineering hurdles.

Mayor Marcella Davis-Gerrish confirmed in a recent update that “thanks to new technologies and the reassessment of previous alternatives…the ice rink will remain in River Park.” Earlier studies had indicated that poor soil conditions would require $800,000 in pilings to stabilize the site, forcing the town to consider moving the rink to the Pleasant View property.

The decision comes after months of uncertainty and a strong response from residents who opposed sacrificing the lakeside tennis courts for the rink. A petition that circulated earlier this month gathered close to 200 signatures. “We all worked hard getting close to 200 signatures and [are] very happy the mayor and council decided to go with the rink in the park,” said resident Maureen Hallam, who helped organize the effort with several others, in a Aug. 25 conversation. “We were never against the rink. It’s an amazing contribution… the Pollocks were giving to the town. We just didn’t want to lose the tennis courts, which have such a history.”

The project, funded through a major donation from the Pollock family, has been in the works since October 2023. River Park was always the preferred site, but engineering studies found the soil could not support the heavy refrigerated slab without costly reinforcements. The price tag and risk of shifting led council to assess other locations, including the town hall lot, Scowen Park, and the municipal parking lot, but each was ruled out for legal, environmental or logistical reasons.

Tension over the issue peaked during the Aug. 11 council meeting, where roughly 40 residents filled the room for an hour-and-a-half debate over site options and costs. While supporters argued that a refrigerated rink would extend skating to five months a year and create “a place of intergenerational gathering,” opponents questioned removing a popular amenity and raised concerns about transparency, operating expenses, and traffic impacts.

Davis-Gerrish thanked residents for their patience in the recent update, saying their input played a key role in shaping the outcome. “Your voices were all heard and listened to, and we took your recommendations and worries into serious consideration,” she wrote in her message. She added that the goal remains to create “a wonderful place of gathering for our community,” fulfilling the spirit of the donation.

Full details of the revised design and construction timeline will be shared once plans are finalized, likely at an upcoming council meeting. For now, Hallam said the mood among residents is clear: “We’re all very, very happy… saving the tennis courts and building the rink in the park, which is obviously the perfect spot for it.”