Will Clay

10/1/15

Clayton Aldermen Approve Funds To Repair Shaw Ice Rink

On July 28, the Clayton Board of Aldermen approved a $200,000 maximum budget for repairs to the Shaw Park Rink. According to the South County Times, city staff believe the repairs should allow the rink to operate for two to three more years, while the board will consider permanent renovations to the rink.

Shaw Park Square would be the name of the core of Shaw Park that would have a year-round venue for recreation, field sports, a new sports center building for the tennis courts and ice rink and the rink would serve as a high school size ice rink in the winter.

The Clayton Board of Aldermen approved the budget for repairs because Proposition D bond proposal to build Shaw Park Square failed. The $12 million ballot proposal needed 57.15% to pass but came up short with 47.66% and 52.34% opposed. This would have increased the amount of people using the space and the amount of money being brought in to the city of Clayton. In 2007, the rink actually had to close for the season to make repairs.

Shaw Park is located along S. Brentwood Blvd and is Clayton’s largest and oldest park. The park was first established by Mayor Charles A. Shaw in 1935. In 1960 citizens passed a bond issue to create the Clayton Ice RInk, a project that the mayor at that time, Mayor Bill Human anxiously wanted to do. The Shaw Park Ice Rink is one of the few remaining outdoor Ice rinks in St. Louis.

Before the April 2014 election, some voters in Clayton expressed their concerns with Proposition D. According to CBS St. Louis, one resident said, “I live on the park, and I don’t want to see a big structure. I don’t want the noise.” Another resident said they weren’t being given enough information about how the money would be used, and many others said they didn’t have enough information on the plan, to vote for it.

The Shaw Park Ice Rink will open for the 2015-2016 season on Friday, November 27, weather permitting.