Volunteers Spend $50,000 to Save Barre Ice Rink

The BOR Arena in Barre, Vermont, avoided a seasonal shutdown after local volunteers funded and executed emergency repairs to the facility's broken ice rink. The city had initially planned to close the arena for the year due to mechanical failures, leaving local youth hockey and figure skating clubs without a home ice surface.

A group of community members contributed approximately $50,000 in labor and resources to stabilize the system. This intervention allowed the Vermont Flames youth hockey team to take the ice first. The fix was immediate but reactive, arriving just as the team was preparing to reschedule a Sunday game.

Corey Gillander, a coach for the Vermont Flames and a Barre native, described the decision to close the rink as disappointing. He noted that the arena is a central part of local life for young athletes. Gillander credited the volunteers for donating their time and materials to ensure the venue opened for the current season.

The repairs address a long-standing infrastructure problem. City officials stated that the arena's aging pipe system has required numerous temporary fixes over the decades. The current intervention is viewed as a stopgap measure rather than a permanent solution. The city emphasized that the freezing system eventually needs a full replacement to ensure reliability.

Despite the successful reopening, officials cautioned that they cannot guarantee the current repairs will hold for the entire season. Gillander acknowledged that the fix serves as a temporary patch, providing the community with time to plan for a more durable, long-term repair of the facility.

Players on the ice reported that the fresh surface performs well. Braxton Orr, a freshman on the Vermont Flames, praised the volunteers for their effort and noted that the smooth ice improves the quality of play. The rink is now open to the public, with the Barre Figure Skating Club scheduled to return after the hockey game concludes.

The event marks a rare instance where private citizen funding directly altered a municipal infrastructure timeline. The volunteers' contribution of $50,000 covered the specific costs of labor and resources needed for the emergency fix. This amount bridges the gap between the city's original closure plan and the immediate need for a functional skating surface.