By Anna Edwards
According to the Three Rivers Athletic Complex Committee, the facility, which is used by many local athletes and teams, will be closed if it does not raise appropriate funds in about 30 days.
When speaking to the Baldwinsville Messenger on Nov. 11, Scott Hinman, president of the committee, said the complex’s west rink needs major repairs and if the money isn’t found to complete them, the entire facility will have to shut down.
After one of the west rink’s compressors failed internally, the rink needs to complete major repairs and is struggling to do so, according to Hinman.
The rink currently needs about $15,000 to make repairs to chiller 1 and $40,000 to repair chiller 2.
It also needs approximately $30,000 for gas that was added to the system in October and $15,000 to pay for gas that still needs to be added.
“We would probably end operations around the end of the year,” Hinman said when asked what will happen if the necessary funds are not acquired.
The rink was built in the late 1980s and early 1990s by the Town of Lysander.
Lysander Youth Hockey Association began leasing the property in September of 2020 and it has become very important to many local athletes.
The rink is used by the Lysander Youth Hockey Association, Baldwinsville High School Hockey, Syracuse Figure Skating Club, Syracuse Men’s league, and other youth hockey associations that use the rink when their facility cannot support them.
“There are around 500 families between hockey players and figure skaters that use the facility regularly as well as Baldwinsville High School uses the facility as its home ice,” Hinman said.
The Lysander Youth Hockey Association Board hosted a bingo night on Friday, Nov. 7 to raise funds for the rink.
Hinman said it was successful and almost $3,000 was raised.
There is still a long way to go, and the committee is looking for help from the community.
They believe that if all Lysander families help, the goal can be reached in time to keep the facility open.
The LYHA Board thanked their supporters for all of the help so far and welcome community members to reach out with any questions or suggestions.
The rink can be helped through sponsorships and donations.
Contact [email protected] if interested in sponsorships.
Another way to help is by donating to the GoFundMe, gofund.me/f61751ec.
Bottles and cans can be donated to the rink’s fund at J&R Claim Your Change, located on Smokey Hollow Road.
Community members can also donate to the Save the Rink fund or write a check to Lysander Youth Hockey and put West Rink Donation in the memo.
Checks can be dropped off at the bar or mailed to 2725 West Entry Road in Baldwinsville.
