Strawbery Banke's Skating Rink Is A Great Idea

The proposal of Strawbery Banke to locate a skating rink at the Museum is a great idea, but it might be worth taking a breather -- since there is time to do so -- to make sure it's fully compatible with the neighborhood.  

Last week, candidates for City Council were invited to Strawbery Banke to learn more about the latest skating rink proposal.   

In a little over an hour, I was told about what really is a fascinating idea -- creating an ice rink during the months of December, January, and February which will be self-funded, allowing for a variety of skating opportunities for the neighborhood, Portsmouth residents, and visitors. 

The idea is creative, and at this point since it appears it cannot happen this year even under the best of conditions, continues to be evolving -- meaning there are opportunities to adapt the plan.  

While the meeting was going on, one of the neighbors of Strawbery Banke, an abutter who has lived there for many years, joined the discussion and added some excellent points and concerns. 

She observed that the 7-day-a-week, 12-hours-a-day use will add substantially to the noise, traffic, and use-intensity of what is otherwise a quiet, relaxed, little-visited neighborhood during those winter months -- giving a well-deserved respite to the heavily-visited summer months.   

I can relate with that concern.  When I started the Neighborhood Committee concept with former Mayor Evelyn Sirrell in the early 1990s, our reason was indeed to protect the then-increasing pressures of new development and activities in Portsmouth's neighborhoods. 

Whatever part of our community we live in, we deserve to enjoy our "home" environment.  That's why we live where we do, and why each of us have chosen to live here.  When we show concern for one neighborhood, we show concern for all our neighborhoods.  

During that discussion, the neighbor brought up excellent questions:  how loud will the music and sound-system be?  When the special larger skating events planned for weekends occur, what kind of traffic control will be offered?  Will there be drinking? 

What about kids who meet-up at their cars and create noise -- the parking lot is very close to the abutters across the street.  How loud will the "chiller" for the rink be, which will be operating on-and-off as needed 24-hours a day? 

Having been involved with other projects which start out "small" and become much bigger than anyone ever imagined, I might add a couple of other concerns, such as will there be efforts to expand into November, and extend into March?  How "big" will the special events become? 

There are plans to use satellite parking and bring visitors to the rink similar to what is done with the Candlelight Stroll that Strawbery Bank already does, but what will that do to neighborhood parking, and noise?  How will the P.A. system and the "cheering" affect the ambience of the neighborhood?   

Many years ago as a little Pup I remember skating on the South Mill Pond.  A few times I remember skating and sledding on the North Mill Pond, where I lived in the North End in my growing-up years until the Vaughan Street Urban Renewal Project threw us out of our home.  

Those are some of my fondest memories with my friends as we grew up -- we didn't fully understand the historic value of where we were skating, but it sure was beautiful and fun.  Our little ones today should have that same experience.   

Skating IS "Portsmouth," or once was -- and can be again.  It would be nice to have skating in the environment of Strawbery Banke.  It would bring more people to visit our Downtown area during normally slow business.  But a lot of things would be "nice." 

The question here is:  how intense will that use be on the neighborhood -- a place people call "home?"    

So, those are some questions.  Since the proposal is still in evolutionary stage, there is time to make it better.  In fact, time to make a good idea a great idea.  Greater for Strawbery Banke.  Greater for the neighborhoods.   

In line with that thought, during our discussion Wednesday, the abutter suggested that a follow-up meeting with other abutters and Strawbery Banke Trustees would be wise -- a bringing together-of-the-minds to learn about the latest thoughts for the project, and to think through a meeting-of-the-minds to find a way to make the plans work for the betterment of all.  

That's called "dialogue," and it's a wise next-step. 

One valuable lesson I have learned from my time of being involved in past City Councils and the legislature is that talking things out before making decisions or taking action -- and including all interests in that dialogue -- is central to making the best decisions and taking the best action. 

Always.   

Going to Court is so often a lose-lose scenario.  Let alone costly for all parties involved.  I'd rather see not only "compromise," but rather an attitude by all -- including Strawbery Banke -- that Portsmouth is just one large neighborhood, and that some of us live closer to each other than the rest of us do.  And when that is the case, we have to go the extra mile, or two, or three, in order to find not only compromise, but a way to live next to each other well.   

There's still room for that dialogue, and I think the abutter who suggested a follow-up meeting as a next-step, and maybe even as the step after that one, is correct. 

The more this proposal is talked about and talked over, reviewed and dissected and envisioned by good people with fine intentions on all sides, the better whatever is done will be.   

Since we're still about a year from whatever form a Strawbery Banke skating rink will take -- regardless of how the Courts rule -- there is time for that dialogue to continue.  Visiting door-to-door with some residents in that neighborhood, I know there are good people on both sides of this issue.  Some support it.  Some don't. 

By putting the emotions aside, and if all participants realize that there are indeed two reasonable sides to this story -- everyone might get to some form of "yes."  And that's a win-win for Portsmouth. 

And for the neighborhood. 

And for Strawbery Banke. 

And for all of us.