Kyle To Host Groundbreaking For The Ash Pavilion

Kyle, TX – Breaking ground on a new multi-purpose pavilion would be cool enough for any community, but for one Kyle family, it represents a wish come true.

The Ash Pavilion, a 200’ x 100’ covered area, will bear the name of the hockey-loving youngster in Kyle, Texas, whose wish it was to have it built.

Ash Crane, who turns 11 on January 21, has hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a congenital heart problem that he’s had since being in utero. He’s undergone approximately 15 heart procedures since the day after he was born.

Ash’s condition qualified him to receive a wish from Make-A-Wish® Central & South Texas. He asked the organization for a hockey rink. According to his mom, Lisa Crane, his wish for the rink was so, “He can share his love of hockey with everyone and create a space where kids of all ages can skate and enjoy the great sport together.”

Ash spent the first eight years of his life in Colorado, but his family moved to Texas to help with his heart condition. Crane said Ash’s first word was “hockey.” But the move from higher altitudes also meant leaving hockey rinks behind.

After Ash made his wish, Make-A-Wish Central & South Texas received support from two long-time donors, The Texas Stars and Southwest Water, who were more than happy to help make his a reality. And because of the scale of this project, the organizations reached out to the City of Kyle to see if they could partner on the project.

“We were more than happy to see if we could join forces and figure out a way to make Ash’s dream a reality,” City Manager Scott Sellers said.

An ice rink was a bit out of reach, but Kyle’s Parks Department Director Kerry Urbanowicz, said building a roller hockey rink in Gregg-Clarke Park would be feasible. And while it will be used for more than just hockey, Urbanowicz said the pavilion will be an enduring gift to the community.

“This pavilion will allow Kyle youth a place to play and make new friends,” he said, “And all because a little boy had a wish to play hockey in Texas.”

With support from the City of Kyle, Make-A-Wish and many other donors, the Ash Pavilion is on track to be ready for local Kyle children later this year.

“We’re still shy of the goal by nearly $80,000,” Sellers said. “But we believe the people and business owners of Kyle will see the need and offer to help make this boy’s dream come true.”

Kathrin Brewer, President & CEO of Make-A-Wish Central & South Texas, said, “There are few experiences more powerful than making a wish come true.”

She said the rink will be something that kids in Kyle will enjoy for years to come.

“We’re thrilled the City of Kyle is partnering with us to make Ash’s dream a reality, and we’re excited about the community being part of this experience,” Brewer said. “A wish is awe-inspiring, uplifting, and can give kids the physical and emotional strength needed to fight their illness and can give them an even higher chance of survivability.”