The Buzz: Winter wonderland

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

By Jake Nichols

Jackson Hole, Wyo.-A Jackson ice skater is proposing to turn the town square into a skating rink – a move he hopes will be the first phase in the creation of a downtown “Winter Wonderland” that will draw vitality to the heart of town during the dead of winter.

Akop Manoukian has a vision, and his vision is the dream of town officials. The president of the Grand Teton Skating Academy wants to transform the town square into a community hub from December to March, moored by a sheet of ice, lights and music.

“Walkin’ Jackson’s Winter Wonderland” is the running moniker for the endeavor Manoukian hopes will attract patrons to downtown and one day highlight the need for year-round ice in Jackson.

“We know we are going to have a lot of challenges but we are going to do our best to show the Town this is a good idea,” Manoukian said. “After four o’clock the town is dead. In summertime the town is the hub of Jackson Hole. During wintertime it is dead. We want the heartbeat to continue yearround. We can do it; we just need a little support.”

Manoukian has hustled support from various sources. Wedco has agreed to fabricate a Zamboni-type ice resurfacing sled. Fire/EMS Station No. 1 has offered its assistance in flooding the eastern half quadrant of the square. The town’s public works department also might help clear snow off the frozen square after bigger storms. Manoukian said he has also contacted most of the merchants on or around the town square and has received 86 signatures in favor of the proposed pond and related festive atmosphere.

Funding has been predictably difficult for Manoukian but the biggest obstacle has been the speed at which the project is moving forward.

“It’s too late to get a lot of things together,” Manoukian said. “We weren’t expecting everything to go this fast. We haven’t raised money yet until we get the ‘OK’ from the Town. If it all goes OK, we are going to propose the ice be maintained once a day and we have a community skate once a week.”

The pond would be open and free to the public any time, Manoukian said, but he envisions a once-a-week open skate where skates would be available for rent ($2-3), with refreshments and music also available.

Manoukian is thinking Fridays from 3 to 8 p.m. he would offer this skating session with all the amenities. He hopes to raise the capital to organize two such weekly sessions this winter.

Music would initially be provided by a boom box or simple sound system. “Maybe when it grows we could invite local bands to play or church choirs to sing or whatever,” Manoukian said. “The point is we are open for ideas on how to make it more fun. We don’t want to say, ‘this is a Grand Teton Skating Academy thing so don’t come close.’ It is our town and we want everybody to have fun.”

At the initial review for the project on November 7, the Town Council was interested but had numerous questions regarding logistics. Manoukian, who has pitched a mobile rink before at locations like the Fairgrounds, assured the Council he could pull it off. Parks and Recreation head Steve Ashworth expressed concerns about recovering the turf come spring.

Alternative locations were also identified by staff. They included the parking lot on Deloney, Center Street, Home Ranch parking lot, and the Miller Park basketball court. Manoukian said he is amenable to a different location but believes a Town Square ice pond best captures his vision for a ‘Winter Wonderland’ in the heart of Jackson and would draw potential patrons for area merchants.

Driving bucks into town has always appealed to Jackson officials, especially during the non-summer months. World-class skiing in Teton Village and Alta has cemented Teton County as a dual-season, tourist-driven economy but the city of Jackson is continually challenged with luring skiers off the hill and into restaurants and shops downtown.

Could an Armenian trick skater who once doubled for Jon Heder in Blades of Glory be the answer? He’s faced with the usual trials of a Jackson Hole winter.
For this winter, Manoukian proposes to freeze the pond naturally. Next year he hopes to add artificial refrigeration of some kind. The arctic temps needed to keep the ice in good shape may also drive skaters indoors. Warmer, sunnier days will soften the rink to the point it may become unusable.

Manoukian admits he will have to start slow and see where he can take his vision. Additional lighting is his next challenge. He has also been in talks with the Chamber of Commerce with the hopes of attracting regional snow and ice sculpture events on town square.

The next step is a final presentation to the Town Council on December 5. Manoukian can be reached at AkopM@aol.com.

courtesy GRAND TETON SKATING ACADEMY
Proposed Jackson Hole Ice Pond on the town square.

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The Buzz: Winter wonderland | Planet JH News Article: General News

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