In the summertime, the Statehouse lawn is bustling with Frisbee games and picnic lunches. This time of year, it's a much quieter place. But Montpelier Alive's Put A Rink On It Committee is hoping to change all that.The committee is fundraising to build a seasonal 50-by-100-foot ice rink on what it calls "the state's premiere green space." So far, over $6,000 has been pledged to the project, including a $4,000 donation from the National Life Group Foundation.
“National Life Group is happy to support projects that boost the civic life of Montpelier, which we’ve been proud to call home for 167 years,” said Beth Rusnock, president of the National Life Group Foundation, in a press announcement. “We love the idea of an ice skating rink on the Statehouse lawn and we look forward to lacing up the skates with all of our neighbors.”
Committee member Nate Hausman said of the donation, "This grant moves us substantially closer to our fundraising goal needed to launch this exciting project."
According to Montpelier Alive, the Montpelier Downtown Improvement District has also committed a $4,000 challenge grant "to leverage additional community donations going forward."
The committee says it still has several thousand more dollars to raise for the single-season pilot project. Individuals and businesses interested in learning more can email the Put A Rink On It Committee.
However, even if the project is fully funded, it isn't a done deal yet. The rink still needs approval from the Vermont Department of Buildings and General Services. The committee says it submitted a proposal in early November. If approved, they hope launch the project early next month.
