Saranac Lake Civic Center fundraises for summer roller skating

SARANAC LAKE | There are decidedly different offerings in Saranac Lake: an annual ice castle, a 90-mile canoe race and a bug crawl. And soon, roller skating. The Saranac Lake Civic Center has announced that it is in the final stages of fundraising for its roller skating program, a new offering that will leverage the facility in the summer. This will supplement summer events at the facility like the popular antique show. Funding is needed to support the offering, such as the purchase of 300 pairs of skates to offer for rent. The Civic Center has raised nearly half of what it needs to offer the program through various grant programs through The Cloudsplitter Foundation, Franklin County Destination Development, Town of North Elba and the Uihlein-Ironman Sports Fund by Adirondack Foundation. "Supporting this program was a no-brainer for Franklin County," said Phil Hans, Director of Tourism & Economic Development. "Our hope is that programming such as this supports the local economy - it will be a supplemental appeal for Saranac Lake that should draw visitors to the area in a new way." The project is a nod to a longtime roller skating rink that was located in Saranac Lake. Local historians have advised that the rink was a magnet for visitors from all over and appealed to all ages. "I can remember skating at the rink (which is now the Kinney's) with friends when I was a kid. My mom would drop us off and we'd stay for hours. It was a blast," Licensed Real Estate Broker/Owner at ACRE ADK Stephanie Colby said. "I can't wait to do it again." Colby, a native Adirondacker, skated at the Civic Center as a figure skater and is now a member of the Civic Center's Board of Directors. Once funding is complete, the plan is to start the project as early as May 2025. Anyone who is interested in participating in fundraising or sponsorship of the program is encouraged to reach out. "The program design will be modeled after our public skating sessions, which are fun, happy and open to all," said Marnie Crane of the Civic Center. "Public skating draws all ages and skill levels. Surprisingly, it consistently attracts multi-generational families that want a way to connect - we expect that roller skating will do the same." The public is invited to track progress and, if able, donate to the cause on the Civic Center website. "Offering roller skating here will be a great way to leverage the space during the off-ice season while continuing our commitment to the local community," said Matt Wolter, Saranac Lake Civic Center Manager.

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Saranac Lake Civic Center fundraises for summer roller skating

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