The Yakima Amateur Hockey Association and others who use the Yakima Ice Rink are fundraising in an effort to purchase the ice rink’s property and keep the facility open.

The ice rink is on Beech Street, on a portion of a 46-acre parcel that once was home to the Yakima Speedway. The hockey association’s board of directors is hoping to negotiate a purchase price for the roughly two acres that house the venerable ice rink and parking area, YAHA President Chris Bartheld said.

“We’re essentially trying to buy this (ice rink) so we can continue to play hockey while we plan and fundraise for a new facility,”

Bartheld said Saturday, between coaching and officiating several youth hockey games at the rink.

The property has been on the market for more than a decade, but is expected to be relisted by the Pollock family following the death of longtime owner Ted Pollock on Dec. 8, 2023.

YAHA is working with the Pollock family to reach a price that works for the hockey association and is acceptable to the family, Bartheld said.

“We’re just looking to purchase the two-acre lot that houses the arena and parking,” he added.

The ice rink site is just west of an Interstate 82 overpass and north of the former speedway property.

The Yakima Herald-Republic was unable to contact the Pollock family for this story. A local real estate agent who previously listed the property for Ted Pollock is no longer involved in its sale.

Speedway property history

According to Ted Pollock’s obituary, he owned and operated Pollock Motors and Yakima Speedway in Yakima for more than 50 years.

Yakima Speedway was the first Pacific Northwest sanctioned NASCAR facility, the obituary stated, with Pollock promoting 17 jumps by Evel Knievel at the speedway during the stunt performer’s early career.

The speedway property has been on the market for roughly 15 years, and in April 2021, Pape Properties Inc. bought 16 acres on the southern portion of the site for $3.6 million, according to the Yakima County Assessor’s Office.

Pape’s purchase prompted the cancellation of the 2021 racing season at the speedway, and its buildings and grandstands were demolished in May 2022 to make way for two new Pape Machinery structures on the southern portion of the property. Construction on the buildings is expected to take place this year, according to City of Yakima building permits.

Pape’s purchase leaves 30 acres of the Pollock family’s property, including the ice rink property.

The Yakima Ice Rink has been operating at its current location since the 1950s, Bartheld and others with YAHA said. The local hockey association has leased it since the early 2000s.

Skating programs growing

Uncertainty about the ice rink property’s future comes as the YAHA and other skating programs are growing in popularity.

Hockey parents Heather Neptune and Tiffany Morrill, waiting for their daughters’ 14U team to begin a game on Saturday morning, said the ice rink is busy just about every day of the week from October through early March.

Youth hockey, adult hockey, learn-to-skate, figure skating and open skate sessions keep the facility abuzz with activity, Neptune said.

“Without the rink, it would be a big loss for these kids and this community,” Neptune added.

Morrill, whose husband Dusty is part of the rink’s maintenance team, said the popularity of all hockey leagues and other skating programs has increased in recent years.

“It’s a really tight-knit, family atmosphere here,” she said of the Yakima Ice Rink. “And they do a really good job of making (newcomers) feel welcome.”

Several hundred skaters of all ages are using the facility during its 2023-24 season. The YAHA board reports more than 80 youth hockey players on teams ranging from 6- to 18-yearolds, and an additional 60 registrations for its Learn to Skate hockey program.

Two levels of adult hockey leagues have eight teams, with a new adult learn-to skate program underway this year.

The figure skating program has more than 20 participants this year, and other events such as hockey skills clinics and open skating nights also take place at the ice rink.

“Our numbers in all programs have taken off and it’s exciting to see the ice arena busier than it has been in many years,”

Bartheld said. “A few years ago, it was rare to have youth hockey games here … now there are youth games at home almost every weekend, with some days full of games back-to-back.”

The fundraising campaign

YAHA has begun its “First 50” campaign, seeking 50 people to donate $1,000 toward the purchase of the ice rink property. Each of these donors will have their name prominently displayed at the ice rink, Bartheld said, with possible displays including plaques and concrete pavers leading to the rink’s entrance.

The effort was announced at a Feb. 15 community meeting at the ice rink.

“Building a new rink is still a goal of ours, but we just aren’t at a place where we can afford to lose our current facility,” he added.

“This isn’t the first time that we’ve encountered challenges, and it won’t be the last. I’m encouraged by the fact that our rink community has come together many times in the past to ensure the future success of our programs.”

Further information about the YAHA fundraising campaign is available online at yakimaicerink.com, on the association’s Facebook page, or by emailing YakimaHockey@gmail.com.

• Contact Joel Donofrio at jdonofrio@ yakimaherald.com.