Kelly, Cass, and Community Centers

There's finally a glimmer of hope that the debate about what to do with Kelly Rink and Cass Rink will come to an end that benefits both sides. 

A little history: Jamaica Plain's Kelly Rink is a small, outdoor ice skating  rink built to replace an older rink that was torn down. Roxbury's Cass Rink was a semi-enclosed ice rink that was allowed to fall into disrepair so bad that it's become very expensive to rehabilitate. Whenever I pass by I can remember stories my elders told me about skating there. Anyway, with major construction planned for Jackson Square (on the Roxbury/Jamaica Plain border), supporters for each rink have been fighting to secure funds for their rink. Kelly Rink supporters wanted a new Kelly built in Jackson Square. Cass Rink supporters countered that their rink is an existing structure within walking distance of Jackson Square that could be renovated. The last time I heard anything about Jackson Square, it sounded like Kelly had the upper hand in the battle.

An article in this week's JP Gazette, however, shows that Dianne Wilkerson may have found a compromise. She's working on securing funds to have a new Kelly built in Jackson Square as an enclosed ice rink and to have Cass repurposed as an enclosed roller rink and pool. Wow! I like the creative thinking behind this effort and hope the state can pull together funding for both projects - from design to construction and maintenance. 

The next things I'd like to see are more restaurants and some music venues around Dudley Square. If we had those, I'd have almost no reason go anywhere else.