Charleston donates used equipment for S.C. ice rink: Zamboni, skates given from former Civic Center rink

DAILY MAIL STAFF

Even though the city of Charleston hasn't supplied any financialassistance to the new ice rink, officials did donate some of the oldequipment from the Civic Center to South Charleston for use at therecently opened skating facility.

The items donated include a Zamboni ice-smoothing machine thatSouth Charleston officials are keeping on hand as a backup in casethe one they purchased has problems. Charleston also donated all ofthe ice skates from the old rink and several scoreboards that couldcome in handy for hockey games.

"There was no way we would ever use" the ice skating equipmentagain, said Charleston Mayor Jay Goldman. "We thought it was a niceway to cooperate with South Charleston."

Currently, Mayor Richie Robb is keeping all of the equipmentstored at the Public Works Department's garage. Although all of theequipment that Charleston donated is usable, South Charlestonpurchased all new materials for its $3.6 million rink, which openedthis week.

South Charleston bought a $58,000 Zamboni machine from California.Goldman said that Charleston's old Zamboni machine wasn't functioningproperly just before the Civic Center arena closed down in 1999.

Robb said the old Zamboni machine could be used if SouthCharleston decides to build a second, outdoor rink next to thecurrent facility. The rink near Trace Fork Shopping Center wasdesigned with an additional rink in mind, and city officials areconsidering building it if the private sector funds the expansion.

Also, South Charleston bought 425 pairs of skates for rental. Theskates Charleston sent over will be used if all of the new skates arerented out - which might happen, if the 800 people who came for theNew Year's Day opening of the facility is indicative of itspopularity.

"All this stuff is nice to have in case we might need it," saidFrank Mullens, director of public works.

For Goldman's part, he said building the rink in South Charlestonworked out best for all parties. He said building the ice rink in theparking lot of Watt Powell Park - where Charleston was consideringbuilding it before the budget became an issue and the city dumped therecreational project - was "the dumbest idea I've ever heard."

"The ice rink looks great. I think it's a far better setting thanwe could have ever accomplished in the city of Charleston," Goldmansaid. "You look at where people are coming from - they're coming fromHuntington and all over. That's a beautiful thing. Everybody benefitsfrom it.

"The (Civic Center rink's) ceiling was falling down. It lookedlike some old gymnasium. (South Charleston's) looks like a reallystrong rink."

Goldman added that Charleston often donates equipment to smaller,surrounding municipalities. During the July floods, Charlestondonated a dump truck to Mullens, and the city has also given an oldsalt truck to Dunbar.

Writer Josh Hafenbrack can reached at 348-4810 or by e-mail atjhafenbrack@dailymail.com.