A 60 x 100 foot Rink Is Under Construction

Dateline: Jan. 6, 2022
Updated: Jan 10, 2022

In the heart of downtown Allenstown, the Economic Development Committee has commenced work on a long-awaited project: an Ice Skating Rink for the children and people of the town.

Field was leveled, then the ground tarp, and rink boards and brackets were installed on Dec. 4-5, 2021

Initially studied and discussed in 2019, the EDC developed a plan, determined the best vendors, estimated costs, and identified a few potential locations. But the land needed was either not available or too difficult or unsafe to develop.

In March 2021, things changed. The voters approved a bond for a new K-8 school to be built on River Road. Students from the existing two schools would eventually be relocated to the new one.

The EDC and town officials revisited the idea of using the field between ARD and Town Hall as the prime site for the rink. A reliable source of water was a prime ingredient so the EDC obtained approval from the Selectmen in early October to expend capital reserve funds to install a two-inch water line from Library St. to the Town Hall basement and out to the ARD field.

Pembroke Water Works was contracted to do the exterior work with Road Agent Chad Pelissier overseeing the project, which was completed at the end of October. In December, Mike Ash of MJA Plumbing and Heating completed the plumbing work inside the Town Hall basement, donating the labor and charging just for parts and materials.

At the end of November, Kris Raymond, School Board Chair, was contacted for permission to use part of that field for an ice rink. After conferring with School Principal Shannon Kruger and School Superintendent Peter Warburton, Ms. Raymond replied on December 1, "the School Board did approve moving forward with this. The School Board wants a Memo of Understanding (MOU ) drafted up between the Town and School just to lay out understandings such as Hours of Operation; Liability Coverage; the fact that the School will not supervise participants; etc." The Superintendent and the Town Administrator worked on the MOU while construction of the rink took place.

Work on the rink begins

During December and into January, Road Agent Chad Pelissier and Highway Dept. employees worked diligently with EDC member and Ice Rink Coordinator Ron Adinolfo to identify all the tasks, order needed parts and equipment, and install all the rink components in preparation for a Grand Opening.

Installing the ground tarp, wall boards, and cross strapping

Several major tasks (see preceding photos) were undertaken on Saturday Dec. 4 when the Highway Dept. brought in equipment to level the ARD field. The next day, the rink boards and brackets were installed and some of the cross strapping was put in place. This strapping was designed to prevent the ice from pushing the side boards apart. After discovering that the box of 100-foot strapping was the wrong length, urgent phone calls to the vendor resulted in an overnight shipment of the correct straps.

Stretching out the liner and filling with water

The next set of major tasks were done on Tuesday Dec. 7. ARD students out on recess kept coming over to look at the work being done. The remaining strapping was rolled out and fastened across the rink. Once done, the crew stretched out the 100 x 60 foot white liner and struggled to keep it in place while a brisk wind kept lifting the edges of the liner off the side boards.

A fire hose was connected to a hydrant and Ron Adinolfo took charge of flooding the interior with water as other volunteers kept the liner in place. After a few hours of filling, the entire liner was held down by a shallow layer of water.

On Dec. 15, the plumbing for the water line inside the town hall basement was completed. This will allow the rink to be filled and resurfaced as needed from a dependable supply.

Installing liner clips, inside board protectors, and foam bumpers

Extra liner clips and side board protectors were ordered to protect the liner on the inside of the wall boards. They were installed the week before Christmas. A set of foam bumpers was also ordered for the tops of the wall boards. These would protect the liner from accidental nicks from skates. These bumpers were installed by Highway Dept. personnel a few days before Christmas Day.

 Building the Allenstown Ice Rink

A Homemade Zamboni Machine

An amazing thing happened on January 4th: the ice rink was resurfaced with our very own homemade Zamboni machine.

Chase Ranfos driving the Allenstown Zamboni Machine

Plans were found on the web and the Highway Dept. used those plans to convert its lawn tractor (which was no longer mowing any grass) into a miniature Zamboni Machine. A frame was made of PVC pipe supporting a tank of hot water. Tubing directed the hot water to a spreader bar and attached towel which dragged along the ice, letting out enough water to smooth the ice as the tractor drove around the rink.

Check out the following videos of the Allenstown Zamboni Machine in action. The antlers were appropriate since it is after all a John Deere tractor!

  Zamboni entering the rink

  Zamboni in action!

First night skate

Later that night, the LED floodlights were powered up and a few hardy neighborhood teenagers came out to test the ice rink. EDC members and Highway Dept personnel watched while they skated around the rink.

Soon they retrieved their hockey sticks and pucks and had a round of practice shots back and forth. The teens were really excited and grateful about having an ice rink in town again.

  Night skating action

What You Can Do

The rink is now OPEN. See the Ice Rink Town Ice Rink page for hours of operation and rule and regulations.