Voice of OC39%
Grindle and Galasso: The Rink on the Brink of Destruction 41%
By Shirley Grindle47% Sharon Galasso47%
7/30/2026, 4:33:13 PM
BS Summary: This article contains 26 faulty reasoning types, including Framing Effect, Loss Aversion, and Biased Writer Voice, with False Dilemma as the most egregious example at 14% saturation with 106 hits. Analysis detected 1,070 faulty-reasoning hits from 755 analyzed words, generating a BS Score of 45% and a BS Rank of 41% (13,299 of 22,239 articles). This article is better (less manipulative) than 59.80% of the article peer group.
Holiday Skate Center Orange, CA
Hidden behind the shopping center on the northeast corner of Chapman Avenue and Tustin Street in the City of Orange is one of only two remaining roller-skating rinks in Orange County.
Every week, approximately 1500 to 2000 skaters visit Holiday Skate Center for recreational skating, competitive events, lessons, birthday parties, and community activities.
Families and skating enthusiasts travel from throughout Orange County and Southern California to enjoy this unique recreational facility.
Today, this community landmark is facing an uncertain future.
The rink and a nearby used car dealership (separated by a large storage facility) occupy approximately two acres of land that have been leased from the same family for decades.
The property owners now wish to sell their land for what they believe is its “highest and best use” and are seeking to have both commercially-zoned properties redesignated for residential development.
Representing the owners is registered Orange County Lobbyist Peter Whittingham, who is also married to one of the three property owners.
Their proposal calls for the construction of 46 townhomes in 14 three-story buildings with no open space and limited parking.
Adding urgency to the situation, the landowners have notified Holiday Skate Center that its lease will end and the rink must close effective August 3 of this year, eliminating one of Orange County’s last remaining roller-skating venues before the City has even decided whether the proposed zoning change should be approved.
The question facing the Orange City Council is straightforward:
Should the City sacrifice a successful small business and valuable commercial property solely to maximize the financial return for private landowners?
Serious Traffic and Access Concerns
One of the most significant issues with the proposed development is access.
The project would rely primarily on Wayfield Street, located very close to the southbound 55 Freeway off-ramp traffic signal at Chapman Avenue.
Residents entering or exiting the development would immediately encounter heavy traffic entering and leaving the freeway, creating potential safety concerns.
Installing another traffic signal at Wayfield Street could improve safety for residents, but it may also create traffic backups extending onto the freeway off-ramp because of the extremely short distance between intersections.
Preserving Orange’s Small Business Community
Orange has long promoted itself as a community that values local businesses and neighborhood character.
In this regard, Holiday Skate Center has served Orange residents for more than 50 years.
It provides affordable recreation for children, teenagers, adults, families, schools, skating clubs, and competitive athletes.
Few businesses remain that have served multiple generations of Orange families in the way this rink has.
Unlike residential development, commercially-zoned property contributes not only property taxes but also sales tax revenue and supports surrounding businesses by attracting visitors to the area.
Once commercial property is rezoned for residential use, those economic opportunities are permanently lost.
Approving this project would eliminate one of Orange’s longest-standing recreational businesses while reducing the City’s commercial land inventory.
Conflicts with the City’s Vision for Orange
The City of Orange has adopted “A Vision for Orange: 2030,” which serves as the foundation for the City’s General Plan goals and policies.
The Vision emphasizes preserving Orange’s commercial districts, recreation, and employment opportunities.
The proposed rezoning of Holiday Skate Center from commercial to residential conflicts with several of these guiding principles.
This proposal is about far more than one parcel of land.
It asks the City Council to permanently convert commercially zoned property into residential use primarily because it is more profitable for the property owners.
The Council must determine whether that private financial benefit outweighs the public benefits of preserving a successful business, protecting recreational opportunities for thousands of residents, maintaining commercial tax-generating property, and avoiding unresolvable traffic concerns.
Holiday Skate Center is more than just a skating rink – it is a community institution that has brought families together for over half a century.
It reflects the small-town character that has long distinguished the City of Orange.
Shirley Grindle , Citizen Activist, Former Member of Orange County Planning Commission
Sharon Galasso , Citizen Activist, Leader of Neighborhood Opposition to the “Kornerstone Cemetery Project”
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