Friday, SEPTEMBER 19, 2025 |
Photo – Medicine Bow gateway sign – Bigfoot99 file photo
The Town of Medicine Bow will utilize Hanna’s unused synthetic ice-skating rink this winter.
In 2019, thanks to a generous donation from Ryta Sondergard and HF Sinclair, the Rawlins Downtown Development Authority purchased a 40-by-60-foot synthetic ice rink. Instead of frozen water, the synthetic ice rink uses high-density plastic panels coated with a lubricating chemical.
After two years, Rawlins DDA stopped using the skating rink. Theresa Pacheco, former head of the Boys and Girls Club of Carbon County, and Mike Armstrong, former Hanna Recreation Director, worked together to have the synthetic rink donated to the Town of Hanna.
Hanna officials were initially enthusiastic about receiving the skating setup. However, a lack of space to install the panels, along with the high cost of the required chemicals, prevented the town from ever setting it up. The synthetic ice rink has been sitting in storage for nearly two years.
Now, the governing body of Medicine Bow is expressing interest in the unused synthetic ice-skating rink. During the September 8th Medicine Bow Town Council meeting, Councilwoman Kristi Wickizer said the town’s recreation board would like to include the ice rink in a community winter activity.
Councilwoman Wickizer said the decision was up to the Hanna Town Council, which was set to vote on the matter the following evening.
As expected, the ice rink donation was discussed at the September 9th Hanna Town Council meeting. Town Clerk Vivian Gonzalez announced that Medicine Bow officials have requested the rink. Clerk Gonzalez said the town will provide the remaining lubricating chemicals, adding that Medicine Bow is better equipped than Hanna to use the setup.
Hanna officials said operating the synthetic ice rink is costly, with the necessary lubricants costing roughly $700 per application.
Town Clerk Gonzales said while the rink was initially donated to Hanna, it is available to every municipality.
The Hanna Town Council unanimously voted to loan the ice-skating rink to Medicine Bow, including the remaining lubricating chemicals.
Back at the September 8th Medicine Bow Town Council meeting, Councilwoman Wickizer asked to use the small concession stand at the Cottonwood Street Park during ice rink hours. Public Works Director Brian Lashley said the building is typically shut down during the winter, adding that the town would need to spend extra funds to keep it operational throughout the season.
Instead, Councilwoman Wickizer suggested setting up the synthetic ice rink in the community center parking lot. While the location would work for the rink, the Councilwoman said that recreation board wouldn’t be able to offer the same types of concessions to skaters.
Because the meeting occurred before the Hanna Town Council session, Medicine Bow officials did not yet know if the ice rink would be available. With the loan now approved, the Medicine Bow Town Council plans to finalize the details at a future meeting.
