Massena willing to put rink at former school

MASSENA — Massena recreation officials say they'd be more than happy to lay a sheet of ice down at the former Lincoln School site so residents can enjoy some winter skating.

"We will maintain it, we will plow it, we will keep it flooded every night," Recreation Superintendent Richard A. Boprey said.

Village officials originally had planned to build 12 single-family dwellings on the parcel that housed the former Lincoln School. But given the economic climate and the number of properties for sale in the community, they've instead opted to leave it as a recreational field for youngsters.

Village Trustee Albert C. Deshaies had asked at a recent village board meeting whether the mayor had given any thought to turning the site into a playground or park, and he reiterated that idea last week to members of the Massena Joint Recreation Commission.

Mr. Deshaies, the village's liaison to the recreation commission, said that since the buildings had been torn down, leaving a wide-open field, children had taken advantage of the space to take part in recreational activities.

"We used to play up there. It was just the place to go," he said.

Mr. Boprey said he had gone to the school to survey the area, and he suggested that although some of the field was hilly, there was one portion that could be used for skating.

His concern, he told recreation commission members, was to avoid any hilly area that would lead to flooded basements when the ice melted in the spring.

Mr. Boprey said village crews also needed to find a spot where the village's tanker could pull in so they could use water from the vehicle to flood the rink. He said they located one on the Howard Street side.

"We have found a spot just where we can get the tanker in," he said.

However, what they don't have is electricity, according to Mr. Boprey.

That means skating will be done only during the day. There also will be no building near the ice as there is at the Alcoa Field and Bridges Avenue sites.

Chairman David M. MacLennan suggested the board see how the first year of operation went before making any permanent decisions.

"If it develops into something further down the road, we will address that," he said.