As you may have heard, Desert Ice Castle will unfortunately be closing their doors PERMANENTLY. Desert Ice Castle has been in the Coachella Valley for nearly 10 years, and has been a wonderful place of gathering for figure skaters, hockey players, and individuals alike. Desert Ice Castle has no choice but to close their doors due to the current COVID-19 pandemic. This petition aims to stop that permanent closure.

The figure skating/hockey population in the Coachella Valley is quite large. The rink is also a popular destination for valley residents during the sweltering summers. There are no other ice rinks near the Coachella Valley, the closest being in either Riverside or Ontario, which are both well over 80 miles away. Employees have no job security; figure skaters have lost the opportunity to hone their craft; hockey players, both local and from out of town, have been depleted of the only ice time offered. 

Personally, this closure is difficult for myself. For me (and other figure skaters), figure skating is my life; Desert Ice Castle is my second home. Figure skating allowed me to realize parts about myself that I had never realized before. It became my passion, my sanctuary, and ultimately, my saving grace. Without figure skating, there is no "me." I am empty, as I think many figure skaters and coaches who train here feel. For us figure skaters, having an ice rink taken away is like having your most prized possession taken away from you. Please do not take away our passion! 

I urge you to sign this petition in hopes that the mayor of Cathedral City, or someone from the Coachella Valley takes it into their hands to stop the closure of Desert Ice Castle. Let us come together as a community to keep the ice rink that so many of us love and support. Let us be in this together, as a family. Thank you.