Why is the ice rink still closed?

It is now close to 200 days since the Genoveva Chavez Center ice rink has been open. On July 20, the Chavez Center reopened its gym and pool under COVID-safe practices. On July 21, Recreation Director John Muñoz told the city Finance Committee that when the public health order on ice rinks was lifted, “We will be able to open the ice rink.”

On Aug. 24, Muñoz sent an email to Mayor Alan Webber stating, “I’ll send over our plan for reopening as I get a couple more details.”

On Sept. 4, Webber emailed me, “We now have pretty much everything in place we need to move ahead.” On Sept. 18, the public health order on ice rinks was lifted under COVID-19-safe practices. And the Chavez Center ice rink remains closed, and there is no date on when it will open.

It’s so frustrating that I have to keep driving to the Albuquerque area where the rinks are open, carpooling as best I can. Why is the city dragging its feet? It won’t even put the ice back in?

Everything else is open at the Chavez Center. Let Cinderella into the ball.

Lisa Schub Santa Fe