Tuesday, January 01, 2008

what a shame that the skating rink in front of Victoria Pool is such a mess this year.


21 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is completely the fault of the inept park employees, surely!

Zach said...

The only thing that is inept is this ridiculous society!

save the victoria pool society said...

lots of families were very upset that they could not skate at their Spa for the whole Christmas vacation. What a shame.

Zach said...

If that's true...IF...then there must have been a good reason as to why the ice skating rink was unusable. It was quite warm for a stretch there up until a few days ago...

save the victoria pool society said...

Please, silverlight, this has been the best winter season for sports in years, surely, you are joking. The warming hut has not had a fire going every day either. Are you blaming that on the weather too?

save the victoria pool society said...

By the way, we never write anonymous comments on this or many other blogs. At least have the courage and dignity to say who you are if you stand by your opinion.

Zach said...

Oh I have plenty of courage and dignity my dear...my name is Ben Gibbons and I live in Saratoga Springs. And I stand behind my opinions...here's one...if you spend each day checking the ice in front of the pool and the fire in the Warming Hut than you obviously have nothing better to do with your time. You have my deepest sympathies...

save the victoria pool society said...

Yes, Ben, we love the Park in every season.

Unknown said...

Ben must not have seen the before and after pics of the pool and grounds at the Vic Pool. I must say, if some people didn't keep the Parks dept's feet to the fire... we might not have it as good as we do today. I am very pleased our tax paying citizens look out for think, even small things, like an ice rink for Saratoga's children.
Ben Gibbons... Do you dislike the children or snow in general??

Andrew, SVPS

Anonymous said...

Its funny that you people criticize people for remaining anonymous, but as soon as someone reveals himself, you criticize them even more! I don't think Mr. Gibbons' point was that he hates children OR snow, but rather that if your "society" is checking the park everyday, just so that you have things to complain about, your "society" is a joke.

Zach said...

I was going to answer that way but anonymous beat me to it...thanks!

Anonymous said...

Friends,

Growing up ice skating, I sure love Spa Park's outdoor rink and its ambiance. However, from years of maintaining my small backyard rink, I also realize temperatures must actually drop below freezing to have decent ice (preferably well below). This simply did not occur this holiday season.

Please follow the web-link below to see actual average temperatures over the Christmas break holiday (NY city is closest records I could find). Daily averages during 12/16 - 12/22 only dropped below freezing once. During 12/23 - 12/29they never did, while often hovering well into the 40's. I feel lucky to have even been able to skate a couple of times before this thaw!

Again, see below; scroll down to "daily observations" and read first two columns.

http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KNYC/2007/12/17/WeeklyHistory.html

save the victoria pool society said...

New York City often has much warmer temperatures than Saratoga especially in the winter. By the way, they manage to keep the outdoor ice skating rink at Rockefellar Center in NYC going for many months without interruption in a much warmer climate than we have up north.

Anonymous said...

Hello,

Perhaps you are unaware that Rockefeller Center uses coolant to maintain their ice. Perhaps you would like to read an article regarding the Center's ice conditions in October:



http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/09/nyregion/09rink.html?n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/Subjects/I/Ice%20Skating



And perhaps also you would like to review December's average highs and lows in Albany? From December 19th through December 31, high temperatures in Albany were above freezing. In fact, on December 23rd, the high temperature was 51 degrees.



http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/ALB/2007/12/17/MonthlyHistory.html



Interesting, then, that the state park cannot make ice. Perhaps you should consider blaming (if you must) those responsible for global warming (all of us) rather than the park employees for the lack of ice.

save the victoria pool society said...

Why has the ice in my yard & driveway in Saratoga Springs not melted all winter and is very good for ice skating?

Anonymous said...

Your driveway and yard ice is a result of the thawing and freezing snow that has accumulated over the past month and a half. I do not believe your statement that it is of skating quality. Obviously, there is snow and ice all over the grounds at Spa Park...but it also is not of skating quality. Remember, to enjoy ice skating, the ice must be smooth. This requires a special technique and quite a bit of time. Patience is a virtue.

Anonymous said...

I have been skating happily at the park for the last week. However, it looks as though the weather will be above freezing for the coming days. Now, I realize that you may not be concerned by this trivial information, but I seem to remember something from "science" class about ice melting above 32F.

So, I wonder, can y'all call in some of the magical forces that have kept your driveway's skate-able throughout the warm days? Alternatively, you could put a call into your Rockefeller Center Rink friends to price a refrigeration unit or two. I am sure the price would fall within the SVPS operating budget. Wait a second, do y’all have a budget? Do you do any fundraising at all?

save the victoria pool society said...

Perhaps you are not aware, mr. putnam, that we helped to generate $1.5million of your hard-earned money to repair the historic and beautiful Victoria Pool.

Zach said...

You helped? You mean you nagged...you nagged and you complained and you bothered. It's 2008 I think it's time to retire your famous "hard earned 1.5 million dollar" speech, it's old and nobody cares anymore.

Ben

save the victoria pool society said...

Ben, You would be amazed how much Saratogians are hoping that a lot more can be done to improve Saratoga Spa State Park if more money comes thru. We are not the only ones who love it.

Zach said...

I'm sure there are quite a few, I happen to be one of them. I just meant that no one cares about you singing that same old tune about how you are responsible for the 1.5 million dollars that was spent on the pool. Now that the pool has been repaired or "saved" I think your society has become obsolete.