As a former council member and mayor for Palm Beach Gardens, I have a unique perspective on the debate surrounding the Palm Beach North Athletic Foundation’s (PBNAF) efforts to build an ice rink in our city. I have always been a strong advocate for all sports, and a huge supporter of all recreational opportunities in our city. Like so many families in our community, my family played on our fields for over a decade. Our two boys ultimately settled on soccer and were long-time players in the city’s Recreation program where travel soccer eventually took over our lives. I, like so many families, look back on these days with fondness and joy.
But as I look at the recreational opportunities in this city, I still look at one glaring void: Indoor ice sports.
I was on the city council when the PBNAF first proposed the concept of an indoor ice facility in our city. I watched and encouraged the PBNAF’s leaders as they navigated the political landscape in our city and the county. I attended many community events and celebrated the first contract with the city and the county in March 2020. Then came COVID-19, and the world changed And sadly, the financial commitments of the PBNAF were lost. And despite my love for this project, I had to make the difficult decision to end the contract between the PBNAF and the city in 2023. I, like many, saw an opportunity lost but as an elected official, my first obligation was to the city and its residents.
Fast forward to 2024-2025, I was no longer on the city council due to term limits, but the dream of revitalizing the project became a reality when the city rightfully encouraged the PBNAF to consider altering the project, focusing on its sole mission of providing indoor ice sports and moving it to the Plant Drive Park. The business community, including the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce, the PGA Corridor Association, and the Palm Beach County Sports Commission remained fully supportive of this endeavor and the hordes of families that live, learn, work and play in our city, who are desperate for additional indoor activities, including ice skating and related sports, became excited again.
Continue work to make ice rink a reality
The reality of this renewed project was only realized by the dogged determination of the PBNAF founder, Mike Winter, a strong partnership with the Gretzky family and a financial partnership with one of our newest residents and philanthropist, Mr. Larry Robbins. Our city and our residents have been given another opportunity to celebrate a project that will fully define our city as one of the best in the state with recreational opportunities that are second to none.
I understand that some are opposed to the project. The location has been debated but as a resident of this city for over 25 years, I have spent time in every one of our parks, including Plant Drive Park. There is always nostalgia surrounding an older parcel that holds special memories for some. But there is no doubt that this project will enhance the park, improve infrastructure and complement Palm Beach Gardens High School, the neighboring baseball fields, pickleball courts, children’s play area and walking paths. And for my fellow residents of the city, the advantages of having a world class ice rink that connects so many of the recreational departments in the city, including the newly renovated and spectacular Burns Road Recreation Center is a highlight of the area.
Change can be difficult, but I urge the city, including the staff and elected officials, to look past the noise and embrace the possibilities. Funding such a project is never easy. Allowing a non-profit additional time to seek better rates on a mortgage shouldn’t be any different than you or me looking for the lowest mortgage rate on a home. Make no mistake, this is one of the largest philanthropic gifts ever offered in the history of Palm Beach County, and the financial strength of the project and its operational budgets and financial projections are not in doubt. I am happy to see the city value this important relationship. In my time on the city council, I never saw either the city attorney nor the city manager put anyone, or anything above the wellbeing of the city and its future. I was happy to see the news that the PBNAF has satisfied its financial obligations to move the project forward.
So let us not take our eye off the prize and let’s get excited for what is to come. Mr. Winter deserves praise for his persistence and Mr. Robbins has proven to be a steadfast supporter of this project, and our city and any personal attacks on these fine gentlemen are certainly not warranted. One can only listen to both men in their daily efforts to build this project with the goals of improving the lives of our citizens and children and see what I see. Dedicated parents, teachers, coaches, philanthropists and volunteers to doing just that. Improving the lives of our citizens today and into the future.
Dr. Mark T. Marciano is owner of Marciano Family Optometric-Vision Source West Palm Beach and Marciano Family Vision Associates-Vision Source-Palm Beach Gardens. He wrote this for The Palm Beach Post.
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This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Palm Beach Gardens ice rink complex shouldn’t get caught up in politics | Opinion
Reporting by Dr. Mark T. Marciano / Palm Beach Post
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