CAPE ELIZABETH, Maine — In late 2020 a small group of Cape Elizabeth residents came up with a way to safely socialize and exercise outside during COVID-19 social-distancing restrictions. For many in the community, that solution meant a "reliable, community-scale, outdoor ice-skating surface for all types of skaters."
Thanks to many volunteers and organizers who put their heads together to envision a solid plan, they made the ice rink a reality. That goal was broken down into two phases.
"That dream became a reality we had 15 days our first season and 20 days the second season since the weather can be unpredictable but the goal this time is to raise $5M, so right now we are on gravel," Whitney Liston, fundraising chair for the arena, said. "Everything you see here must be pulled up and taken away and rebuilt in the fall, we are hoping that by the fall we have the funds and permitting to have a slab and a roof to be here year after year."
In phase one, the project received town approval, and the group managed to gather $6,000 to purchase materials for the rink. The remaining expenses for phase one were reached through a GoFundMe campaign. The fundraising goal of $25,000 was reached within a matter of weeks, with more than 100 contributions.
"This place means a lot to me, because all my friends, we all hang our here on the weekends and play pond hockey with each other," Graeme Liston, 10, said.
Liston said the future long-term project is to put a permanent roof and slab, which would make it easier and more cost-effective for future years to set up the rink for all to use.
The second phase envisions repurposing much of the material from the first phase and adding a large, refrigerated ice sheet, boards and glass, hockey benches, warming hut, bathrooms, roof, and a Zamboni.
"It's just an amazing asset for my kids and the community," Julie Furt, a volunteer, said. "We have programing that ranges from ages 3 all the way into 60s, and this is where the teenagers are on the weekends. We know where our teens are, and it's a great hangout spot for families to be here, so we really want this to be a sustainable project going forward."
On Thursday, March 7, the community is putting up its largest fundraising event "Rink Fest." While all of the donations will be taken online here, the event will have lots of skating, food trucks, raffles, and tons of fun.
If you would like to make a donation or to learn more about the Cape Elizabeth Community Ice Rink, you can click here.