A culmination of good financing plans and sound economic development strategy, Conway Park will have a new ice rink completed in 2012. - Photo by Andrew Firestone

By Andrew Firestone

Conway park saw  the inklings of a new era this last Friday, September 9, when Mayor Joseph Curtatone, flanked by aldermen and representative Tim Toomey broke ground on the new rink adjacent to the Veteran’s Memorial Rink.

“This is a great occasion,” said Curtatone, who spent most of his oration thanking the designers, architects, and others who had a hand in the building of the rink. “We’re excited in Somerville that we’ve been able to invest in the expansion and building of new open recreation spaces, creating opportunities for young and old and all different backgrounds to get out and play hard.”

Curtatone said the rink supported boys and girls desire to explore “the great sport of hockey.”

The Mayor also took time to commend the BOA for their work in approving funds for the project, including an appropriation for $120,000 from the Capital Stabilization Fund for a new Zamboni. “I would like to thank the board of alderman for their cooperation and their hard work,” said Curtatone.

Alderwoman Maryann Heuston, Ward 2, was excited for the prospect of windfalls for the city arising from the new rink. “As chair of the finance committee, I know we did our due diligence here in terms of the funding for this, in terms of the return on investment for the city.”

“While it’s wonderful that this is an additional recreational facility, don’t underestimate the impact of the economic development of the city of a facility such as this. This brings people outside the city to this city,” she said. “They spend their money here. That’s good for the city.”

Bruce Desmond, Alderman-at-Large, said that the Mayor’s continued ability to find funding for projects like these was what kept the city on the up-and-up. “I want to thank him. Joe Curtatone’s vision, his ingenuity and his courage not to sit idly by, but he has the courage to actually make a decision and go forward with it, and that’s why Somerville is what it is today,” he said.

“Great things are happening here.”

Funding for the project comes from a “complex, innovative plan,” including $100,000 from the Federal Realty Investment Trust, city funds and a partnership with Clear Channel,” involving maintenance and the digitalizing of billboards in certain neighborhoods. SomerVision’s Tara Acker said the project cost a total of $3.2 million.

“I think we have to be creative. Sometimes crisis spurs creativity. Whether it’s Assembly, [where] we had a creative partnership between the city, state, the federal government, the community, and the developer, or more isolated projects like this, that’s sometimes the only way it’s going to get done,” said Curtatone.

“Fortunately, we’re in the situation to have those opportunities,” he said.