Letter to the Editor
Ice Park expired?
Published Monday, March 31, 2008
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Stumble It!March 26, 2008
To the editor:
If you went to a restaurant and were served rancid meat, wilted lettuce and spoiled milk, would you want to pay for it?
I saw the article in your paper that states the Ice Park is staying open for another week because Ice Park officials said “the ice sculptures and slides are in good shape.”
In fact, many of the sculptures are falling apart, big pieces lying on the ground, and those that aren’t falling apart have lost a great deal of detail.
If they’re charging $10 for admission, shouldn’t they have to be honest about the condition the sculptures are in? As of March 26, their Web site states, “Check out the sculptures — They are still fantastic!”
Would you want to spend full price for a meal consisting of food that had long since lost its freshness?
If the city of Fairbanks is considering this group for a different land site, I would hope the ethics of this group would be part of that consideration.
Community Discussion
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Hi Mary...sorry you had to see it like that...but if you remember their "spokesperson's" comments right after the warm spell...it completely contradicted this. Back then she said that the single clocks were not doing well and that two slides had been closed. Because Ice Alaska refused to move the dates any earlier in February, they suffered from the high heat in late February/early March. They were trying to make up for lost revenue by keeping it open later, but many people I spoke to had the same opinion. I hope they have learned a couple of thing this year...first, move the competition up by 2 weeks and second, have an honest PR game plan. I knew better and didn't waste my money.
I agree with you Mary. It doesn't matter what the website says and if they wrote in before the warm spell that does not stop them from charging admission at the door. they could simply charge less and tell people why and what they are in for.. it is like false advertising and they are wrong for charging people full price. what a rip off.
they need to get their act together on that one..
Oh my. I hope that I'm never stupid enough to go to an ice park on an above freezing day, in Fairbanks, pay full price, and be disappointed that the carvings are melting. The day that I do that, please put a bullet in my head. Put me out of my silly misery.
No, on second thought, let's get the government to pay for it. Both the melted ice carvings and my silly misery. Good grief!
Ok. Water freezes at 32 degrees F. Anything above that will cause ice to melt. Its pretty basic elementary science. If you would like to see the ice carvings in full detail, go before the temperature gets to that point. Cry that you couldn't have predicted it. Well, neither could the ice park. There is no safety net in place to protect the finances of Ice Alaska in the case of warming temperatures. Thats just life, and life ain't fair.
Mary, your letter insinuates that someone is ripping you off. I think that their ethics are on par with your ignorance. Are you really saying that you waited until after the two week heat wave then whined about the ice being melted? What would you suggest as an alternative? The organization going into the red because you didn't have the foresight to go to the ice park when it was actually...GASP... cold outside?
Cmon Freesee...in defense of Mary...the multi-block competition wasn't even finished when the heat wave came. Ice Alaska, by going into the red again (according to your post), has no one to blame but themselves. This is not the first time this has happened...and until they move the ice carnival two weeks earlier...it will happen again. As the old saying goes...ignorance is doing the same thing the same way and expecting different results. Until Ice Alaska makes the move...this will continue. And it's sad because they are a good organization that tries to put on a first-class show. All they have to do is move the event up 2 weeks and they won't have this problem. This year, if during the cold weather the sculptures had been done...people could have experienced them and they wouldn't have those financial crunch. Most people want to see the big, spectacular pieces...and check out the single blocks while they are at it. That's just human nature. Being cold outside isn't the issue...having enough quality ice carvings to look at is.
I went after the heat wave and the single blocks were in poor shape, but the multiblock stuff was fantastic. But I had the most fun on those slides that are hidden away in the back area.... Those are freaking awesome.
"ignorance is doing the same thing the same way and expecting different results"-- I think that's what they say about insanity. Sometimes the same in my book, though.
Maybe they should talk to the owner of Chena Hot Springs and find out how they keep their ice hotel open year round. Or better yet just move the ice park out there. At least if the sculptures melt you can still soak in the springs and get a massage.
I'm sorry Mary if you felt Ice Alaska shouldn't have left the park open and charged full price. The solution for you is easy, Don't go!
As for me, my kids LOVE going to the ice park and taking them is quite a bargain. Where else can they slide down a polar bear? Ice Alaska does a wonderful job of bringing in talented artists from all over the world. Who can blame them for wanting to keep the park open.
You should be ashamed of yourself for complaining about something so petty. Perhaps next time you can complain about a real problems like crime or violence.
ICE ALASKA SHOULD NOT EVEN EXIST! MANY RESOURCES ARE EXTINGUISHED TO PRODUCE A PRODUCT THAT WILL SOON MELT. SINCE WE ARE SLIDING DOWN THE OTHER SIDE OF PEAK OIL, WE SHOULD USE ARE NON-RENEWABLE RESOURCES A LITTLE MORE WISELY. I HOPE PEOPLE ARE NOT MOVING TO ALASKA JUST TO EXTINGUISH RESOURCES!
I love the ice park, and spent countless hours volunteering to help build a slide for it this year. I think it's great entertainment for the community, and a great reason to get outside during the winter.
Overall it was a tough year for the park. It hasn't been cold and the ice didn't form as expected. Had events started two weeks earlier there wouldn't have been enough ice. As it was the month-plus of carving that goes on before the park opens was delayed, and carvers were literally working into the night to get the park ready for opening day. Moving the start of the competition or the opening of the park isn't going to make a difference if our winters stay warm.
And the very best time to go to the park is during the competition anyway. You get to talk to carvers from all over the world and watch them create incredible pieces of art. You have no one to blame but yourself if you wait too long to see the sculptures. We try the best we can, but ice art waits for no man.
thats not safe for kids to go to the ice park.. if melt ice fall on the kid... id an ice fall off other ice block there are heavy and crash on kids... DO NOT GO TO ICE PARK WHICH ARE NOT SAFE... BECAUSE OF WARMTH SEASON...... THE ICE PARK SHOULD BE CLOSED EARLY CAUSE IT GOING MELTING
THANKS FOR UR SAFETY
That's not safe for kids to go to the ice park.. if melt ice fall on the kid...IF peice of ice fall off other ice block. there are heavy and crash on kids...u cant lift the ice off the kid . it required to get liftfork operater to get ice off ur kid DO NOT GO TO ICE PARK WHICH ARE NOT SAFE... BECAUSE OF WARMTH SEASON...... THE ICE PARK SHOULD BE CLOSED EARLY CAUSE IT GOING MELTING
THANKS FOR UR SAFETY
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