A skating rink for downtown Carson City? Our immediate reaction is that it's a great idea to not only generate more traffic downtown, but to create positive experiences for Carson residents of all ages. What a great place to spend a winter evening or weekend with your family without having to spend the money to travel.
It's also a generous gesture on the part of the Carson Nugget to pay half the cost of the $134,000 temporary rink, which would operate from December to February if approved by supervisors.
Our second reaction is to wonder how the city is going to be able to afford this thing. Is it a luxury at a time when we should be focused on providing the basic services? If so, the answer is clear " the city should take the fiscally responsible route at a time when so many people are cutting out extras.
Fortunately, there may be an offsetting factor that makes the 56-foot by 85-foot rink worth considering. The city could recoup some of the funds through user fees of people who use the facility. How much money? Nobody can say for sure, but it's likely to cut the price tag considerably. The city should ask for an estimate from the company that would provide the rink " it operates similar facilities in other cities and should be able to offer more specific information.
And if the answer to that question is favorable, we think the rink is a good investment in building a sense of community and creating traffic downtown.
The issue will be on the agenda of the Supervisors meeting on Thursday at 8:30 a.m. in the Sierra Room at the Community Center.
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