GLADSTONE — Although the Gladstone ice rink has not been located at the beach house for long, the Gladstone Parks and Recreation Department is gearing up to move the rink again.

Gladstone Parks and Recreation Director Nicole Sanderson explained after three years of the ice rink being located next to the beach house, the department is throwing in the towel and looking to move it next winter.

According to Sanderson, high water levels and warmer winter weather had a huge impact on Gladstone’s community ice rink this winter.

“This year, we were not able to open the ice rink,” she said.

Before the ice rink was located next to the beach house, it was located next to Jones Elementary School.

Sanderson said the ice rink was at the Jones property next to the school for at least 20 years before it was moved.

The move came after the school was in need of more space for programming and offered a trade.

According to Sanderson, the school asked for the building used as the warming hut and in exchange, the recreation department got the old bus garage. The old bus garage now houses the parks and recreation department.

“When we did that we had to move the ice rink,” she said.

When looking for a new location, they had to have the ability to have a restroom and warming hut near the ice rink, Sanderson said.

She added the rink was moved to the beach because the beach house was a viable option for being both a restroom and warming hut after winterization and it was still located in the downtown area of Gladstone.

“The first year worked out well,” Sanderson said.

However, she noted it was difficult to create ice last year and impossible this year.

Money was budgeted for the move of the ice rink in the 2020-2021 fiscal year budget. A total of $5,000 was bookmarked from the Dr. Mary Cretens Fund to be used in moving the community ice rink.

The Gladstone Parks and Recreation Board will be discussing the relocation of the ice rink at its meeting on tonight. The meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. at the Parks and Recreation Department building.

Sanderson said there are options, but she is hoping the board members have more ideas, as well.

Some of the options to be discussed include putting the ice rink back at the Jones property, locating it at the campground, or at the John and Melissa Besse Sports Park.

According to Sanderson, the options aren’t easy solutions though, which is why the meeting will be used to brainstorm and discuss all viable solutions.

When it comes to the Jones property, she would have to see if the school would be willing for the department to use the old warming hut building during the winter months so the ice rink could be located at the elementary school again.

Concerns for the campground location include it is a bigger project that moves the kids to another side of town. Sanderson explained the campground has a restroom facility, but it would have to be winterized and a warming hut would have to be built.

Putting the ice rink at the sports complex makes sense, with all the other winter recreational activities up on the hill. However, Sanderson said finding a spot on the hill would prove a challenge and then there’s the concern about kids not being able to get to the hill on their own.

She noted kids could utilize the transportation provided through the After School Program, but it doesn’t address transportation on the weekends.

“The rec board has a lot to talk about on Tuesday,” Sanderson said. “Hopefully we’ll be able to come up with a solution.”