“Awesome!” That was Dirk Beamer’s reaction when he first learned of plans to install a seasonal ice rink on the grounds of Riley Park in downtown Farmington. Today, Beamer and his partner, Lee Flaherty, announced their law firm’s commitment to match every gift made by an employee toward the cost of the new rink.

A seed gift of $100,000 from the Riley Foundation makes the rink possible, and city officials have pledged to front an additional $125,000 until private donations are raised for the balance. A past-president of the Farmington DDA, Beamer wanted to find a way to kick-start grassroots giving by local businesses and residents. “I was fortunate to serve the DDA as president when we built Riley Park and the Walter E. Sundquist Pavilion. Outdoor skating has always been a dream addition. As a community, we need to step up in a big way to show our thanks to the Riley family and to City Officials for making this dream a reality.”

According to Flaherty, the employer match was a logical way to promote individual and corporate support for the project. “The whole community benefits from a dynamic, active downtown. Businesses should see more foot traffic. Residents will enjoy the rink itself. And everyone will watch for rising property values.”

Beamer wants other businesses to follow Wright Beamer’s lead. “We encourage our friends and colleagues in the business community to extend a similar opportunity to their employees. If 100 businesses match $1,000 in employee giving, we should be able to cover the entire cost without additional effort or fanfare.”

For more information about supporting the ice rink, contact the Farmington DDA at (248) 473-7276. To learn more about Wright Beamer, visit www.wrightbeamer.com.

Ice Rink Photo Credit: Joni Hubred-Golden