Franklins Community Raised Ice Rink comes back to Odell Park

Odell Park is on the brink of welcoming back a long-lost winter tradition, thanks to months of effort by volunteers, donors, and local supporters. During a full tour of the site, project lead Kathy Fuller shared how the new skating rink—now taking shape behind the historic cottage—represents not only community pride but a return to the park’s heritage.

“All right,” Kathy began, standing near the construction area. “This is our up-and-coming ice rink, which volunteers from our own town are working to construct.” Residents have watched piles of sand and dirt appear over the past weeks. Now, those materials are becoming the rink’s perimeter walls and foundation. The rink will be two-thirds the size of an NHL rink—large enough for recreational skating, small games, and community events.

The rink is designed as a seasonal installation “In the spring, once skating is over, we take it down,” Kathy explained. The panels, liners, and equipment will be stored in a dedicated container purchased for the project at the Rowell Community Center.

One of the most exciting additions is the baby zamboni, a compact ice resurfacing machine affectionately called the Bambini. “I actually sat on it,” Kathy said. “I am never going to run it—Stu and the other guys will handle that. It has a 100-gallon tank of hot water and a built-in shaver. It looks like a mini riding lawn mower with a giant tank on the back. The kids are going to love watching it.”

The rink cannot be set up until the ground stays frozen, but the preparation work continues regardless, literally as we're talking. “We’ve had an incredible number of volunteers,” Kathy said. “And at this point, we’ve raised about $37,000 from the community.”

Reviving the Park Caretaker Cottage

One of the requirements for opening the cottage was building an ADA-compliant. “The ramp will be painted next year after the wood dries out fully,” Kathy explained. On the attached porch she points out Vintage metal porch chairs—some 75 years old—that have been donated by community members and restored by Councilor Tom Boyce.

Inside the cottage, there is an ongoing effort to bring the space back to life. “We can’t build new buildings, and the city is strapped to take care of the ones it has, so Crystal said, ‘Why not use the cottage?’” Kathy explained. The Boy Scouts currently use the building, and the interior has not been renovated yet, but Kathy and the Historical Society are committed to restoring it. (Personally I think it's cozy and has character)

As she opened the door from the new ramp, Kathy pointed out rescued vintage photos destined for the walls, rescued from the thrift store

The dining area temporarily holds supplies, but will eventually serve skaters and volunteers. The recently repaired seasonal porch, once close to collapsing, will store equipment like helmets, crates, and walkers used by learners of all ages. The milk crates canl be used by little kids and “These (walkers) aren’t just for the elderly,” Kathy demonstrates. “They’re for grown up kids who want to stand tall and learn how to skate.”

Coming into the kitchen she shared a personal memory from a prior park caretaker who lived in the cottage, Dot Marceau. “Dot said to me, ‘If they ever take the plumbing apart, I lost my wedding ring down the sink—tell them to be looking for it.’” Dot, now in her nineties, still loves visiting and watching the project unfold. A full kitchen supports volunteers who staff the warming area. One volunteer even purchased a hot chocolate machine. The fridge, microwave, and Bunn coffee maker were also donated. The next challenge is flooring. “We want to protect the original floors until we can restore them,” Kathy said. Donations of used horse mats or hockey mats are strongly encouraged. The second floor of the cottage is off limits for now, but perhaps will be used in the future.

Emblem, Tradition, and New Momentum

Back into the large room of the cottage is a board displaying the rink plans.

Kathy showed the emblem for the rink—a design that will appear on future hats, sweatshirts, and this year’s Festival of Trees entry. “Stew and the board came up with this slogan: “History Returns. Skate Odell” It’s catchy,” she said. The Festival tree they are donating for the upcoming celebration will feature logos and antique skates from the late 1800s. “We’re not giving those away—they’re part of the park’s history.”

Next on the board is the upcoming infrastructure: solar lights, a water pump, and the planned security camera system. “These solar lights are 8,000-watts,” she said, referencing the images. “We’ll have six of them. We originally proposed four or five, but the board said, “We have the money—let’s light it up.’”

A pump will draw water from the river for initial flooding. The Franklin Fire Department had hoped to help but may not have the available manpower due to the rink’s size and their unpredictable call volume. “But it depends on their schedule and their calls, we understand that,” Kathy said.

Kathy reviewed a list of local companies donating their labor, materials, or expertise: “It's amazing what companies have donated in kind, whatever their expertise is.”

Municipal Services staff are also enthusiastic. They maintained the old rink decades ago and are excited for its return. Records suggest Franklin has been without a public rink since the early 1990s, possibly since 1992. Kathy plans to share documents from the Historical Society confirming the timeline. Support is also coming from an unexpected but deeply meaningful source: the seniors at Peabody across the river. “Some can look right out their windows and watch the rink in winter,” Kathy said. “They’re so excited. We’ve received two major donations from residents there.” Many remember skating at Odell Park before the turn of the century.(Yes the 1990s)

A Final Call to the Community

As Kathy wrapped up the tour, she emphasized one final need: If you have ice skates of any size that you no longer use, please bring them to the Thrift Clothes Closet. The skating rink will lend them to future skaters.

With hundreds of volunteer hours, thousands of dollars in donations, support from local businesses, and enthusiasm from every generation, Odell Park is preparing for a historic winter. The community that once skated here is rebuilding that tradition—one board, one light pole, and one memory at a time.