Somerville Proposes $168K of Renovations to Founders Memorial Skating Rink

The city of Somerville wants to transform Founders Memorial Skating Rink into a multipurpose recreation facility.

Somerville Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and her administration have proposed installing a multipurpose gym floor  inside Founders that would provide recreational space for the city. This change to Founders would complement the Veterans Memorial Rink on Somerville Avenue currently set up for ice skating.

Plans also include the ability for Founders to shift back into being an ice rink. The estimated cost of the renovation is approximately $168,000. Somerville's City Council must approve the project before it can proceed.

“We are filling the gap from what Founders was to what it can be, restoring access to vital recreational opportunities for all Somerville residents,” Ballantyne said in a statement shared by the Patch of Somerville. “Founders makes smart use of current resources to provide the recreation space that residents need today."

The renovated Founders facility would host various community programs, including yoga, exercise classes for older adults, themed entertainment, roller skating nights, and various recreational sports.