Supporters of the Ice Station Valencia have organized a car parade for this weekend in a demonstration to help keep the rink active in the community after recent news that it would be closed permanently.
Members of the parade are encouraged by organizers to show their love and support for the rink by decorating their cars with team colors or personal flair.
The 93,000-square-foot station has operated in the Santa Clarita Valley for the past 20 years, with tens of thousands of people using the facility each year, according to officials.
Several local hockey leagues and the Tri-Valley Figure Skating Club also held their practices and games at the facility.
The Ice Station previously closed on March 13 amid the coronavirus outbreak, and announced its permanent closure on March 25.
Members of the community have since started a petition to keep the rink. The petition calls for both the City of Santa Clarita and the Los Angeles Kings to purchase and operate the ice station so that it can “continue to bring joy to thousands in our local community.”
As of April 23, over 22,600 people had signed the petition.
The parade is planned to start on the north side of Smyth Drive near Copper Hill Drive, where an event organizer is set to place two removable car decals on the side of participating cars. The first would be a “savetherink.com” decal, while the second would have the participating family’s surname on it.
The cars are planned to continue down Smyth Drive to the front of the Ice Station and the banner adorning the front of the business. There, volunteers can write the family name on the “#wewillsavetherink” banner and photographer Tony Panzica can take a picture of the car in the parade. Each name collected on the banner is meant to “create a visual petition that shows our community’s support for the rink,” according to event coordinators.
“Our goal is to keep this a positive event, so we need to follow social distancing guidelines. You will be asked to stay in your car at all times,” read the official Facebook event page. “We will ask that after you are done in front of the banner that you do not congregate anywhere near the rink. We appreciate your cooperation to keep everyone safe.”
See Related: Residents Start Petition To Save Valencia Ice Station After Officials Announce Closure
The parade is also set to involve a car decorating contest. Anyone wishing to participate is asked to take a picture of their car before heading out to the parade. Group members will be able to vote on their favorite car and the winner will get a prize.
Details about how to upload pictures and enter the contest are set to be available on the Facebook page.
Participants who RSVP to the event by Saturday, April 25 before noon are set to have printed names. Participants who join after that time are planned to receive handwritten names on their decals.
The parade is set to take place from 1 – 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 26, and drive past the Valencia Ice Station on Smyth Drive.
For more information on the event, visit the Facebook page.
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