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The on-again, off-again relationship between the Winona Lake Park Department and the Northern Lakes Skating Association may be on again - if the NLSA agrees to the park board's terms by Friday.
At the park board's Tuesday meeting, the board voted unanimously to allow the NLSA to use the Quonset hut building this winter for an ice skating rink.
The decision was for one season only, said park board president Chris Boyd, and was contingent on the association paying $1,500 for the season.
"We need to generate a little money so we can add more park activities next year," Boyd said.
The NLSA officers have until Friday to decide whether they will accept the board's terms. Brian Smith, the NLSA spokesman, said today that he doesn't know what the organization will do, but that he does not believe the amount is out of line.
"This is not that outrageous a figure, but for a not-for-profit group like us, it's kind of scary," he said.
"They've given us the last two years without any money going back to them."
Smith said the skating group may seek corporate underwriters to help defray expenses.
The fate of the Quonset hut has been a hot topic in Winona Lake recently, with the NLSA's use of the building for the past two years, and the town council's consideration of the building as a new town hall.
Boyd said previous claims that the park board gave permission to the town to use the Quonset hut for a town hall were not accurate.
"That is incorrect information," she said.
The board's decision to rent the space to the NLSA was largely based on the delay by the town council in making a decision on where the town hall will be located.
The most recent figure for renovating the Quonset hut into a town hall is approximately $400,000, and the council is looking at other properties and options.
The park board previously told the NLSA that without a refrigeration unit, another season at the Quonset hut would not be practical, since without a chiller the rink is dependent on the weather.
However, Glenbrook Square mall in Fort Wayne recently donated all of its ice rink equipment to the NLSA, including a chiller, extra skates and a Zamboni ice machine.
Smith said the Glenbrook equipment will move to Warsaw on Friday, the same day the organization must give the park board its decision on using the Quonset hut.
"This board's vision for the park is to recreate - to give people activity, for the park to just be alive with activity," Boyd said. "We know this won't be long-term, but at least there will be skating for another season."
