BY MICHAEL OLOHAN
OF NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS
ENGLEWOOD, N.J. —— While recent ice rink repairs at John T. Wright Arena have led to heated City Council debates, a check presentation Dec. 19 from a local nonprofit donating $19,000 to fund rink repairs and skating programs for city kids led to a roomful of smiles.
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“We want to make sure it remains a successful asset in the Englewood community. And we’ve also got grants that we use towards community programs,” Lisa Wistosky, president, Friends of the John T. Wright Arena, told Northern Valley Press on Dec. 20.
“The contributions from people in the community have been amazing,” she said.
Holding two oversize checks for $10,000 and $9,000, respectively, Wisotsky stood with all council members and Friends’ volunteers to show support for the ice rink and its programs.
Wistosky said prior to the Friends’ group’s formation, many residents of the Fourth Ward – where Mackay Park’s John T. Wright ice rink is located – did not use it.
Over the last four years, however, she said the group has contributed $110,000 “and provided programming for Englewood children to skate at the rink.”
She said this includes a learn-to-skate program for 80 kids in the Greico after-school program, and an after-school program for 80 Janus Dismus middle school students involved in a “Skating Scholars” program.
She said the group sponsors the first-ever Dwight Morrow High School Girls’ Hockey Club and is planning the fourth annual Englewood Winter Party scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 7, 2018 at the ice arena.
She said the Winter Party is free to city residents, and usually attracts 600 to 800 residents.
“It brings the entire community together. You have to remember the first party we had in 2014, after Superstorm Sandy, people came who had never been at the rink,” said Wisotsky.
“It’s the only event that brings everybody together. It’s by the community and for the community,” said Wisotsky, who urged residents to attend.
The Friends, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, was established in the wake of extensive damage to the rink in 2012 by Superstorm Sandy.
The roof was severely damaged by the storm and questions arose whether the rink should be reopened.
The Friends’ group, with members from the city’s four wards, formed in 2013 and vowed to help support rink operations and programs.
At a special meeting Nov. 27, City Council members argued over approving $114,531.91 in funding for what were deemed “emergency repairs” to the rink’s cooling equipment. Both Hamer and At-Large Councilman Charles Cobb charged that “the process” of consulting with all council members and getting public input before approving funding was not followed.
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Council approved emergency expenditures: $25,531.91 for coil casing section and section of condenser; $1,500 for Vergona Crane; and $87,500 for required refrigerant that had resulted from “a significant leak in the cooling equipment,” notes the resolution.
Photo courtesy City Clerk Yancy Wazirmas