Penguins hold meeting to discuss specifics of armory rink
Something new is skating into Pittsburgh’s Shadyside neighborhood.
The Pittsburgh Penguins and the Penguins Foundation held their second public meeting Wednesday regarding the temporary installation of a public rink at the Hunt Armory building on Emerson Street.
The Penguins received a grant from the National Hockey League and National Hockey League Players’ Association to build the seasonal rink, which would be the first new publicly accessible rink within city limits in decades. The rink would also support equitable and inclusive hockey programs among Pittsburgh’s youth, including initiatives such as the Learn to Play program and the Willie O’Ree Academy.
During the meeting, leadership within the Penguins and the Penguins Foundation talked more about the programs, public skates and the purpose of the project. Some of the higher-priority segments talked about the official timeline of the temporary rink, as well as when events would occur and where those interested should park when arriving at the facility.
According to the timeline set out by the Penguins, after the two public meetings held last week, the city’s Zoning Board of Adjustments will meet Aug. 19 on the proposal for the temporary use agreement and will have 45 days to make its decision — which will be around the end of September.
If the agreement is granted, the Penguins can begin the small amount of construction within the building required to install the rink and patrons can begin coming to the facility starting Nov 26.
“We’ll start right after Thanksgiving and then finish up in early March, then the rink will be taken out and the Armory will be put back to its original condition. This is not a permanent development. This will be a temporary use under the zoning code,” Kevin Acklin, chief operating officer and general counsel of the Penguins, said during the meeting.
All rink installation and operations costs will be supported by the Penguins at no public expense, the organization said.
Once the rink has opened, both programs and public skates will be available with the following schedule: weekdays from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. and weekends and holidays from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Weekday hours are set to avoid school conflicts.
With a 300- person occupancy
limit, the rink plans to hold programs, practices, public skates and games for all community members in and outside the Shadyside neighborhood, bringing opportunities for those who normally wouldn’t have them.
“This here facility, if it was in the community, how many more kids will be able to benefit from it? How many parents will be able to get the opportunity to see their kids and help their kids
benefit from parental involvement?” Richard Payne, the middle school and special programs coordinator of the Pittsburgh Inclusion Creates Equality program, asked during the meeting.
But getting to the rink and parking are two of the most important aspects of the project for local parents and their involvement.
Although not finalized, possible parking can be found at the Calvary Episcopal
Church lot (0.2 miles/ 3-minute walk), the Sacred Heart Church lot (0.1 miles/ 3-minute walk), the East Side Bond Garage (0.4 miles/ 7-minute walk), the Shakespeare Street Giant Eagle lot (0.4 miles/7-minute walk) and on-street parking.
The parking schedule plans to accommodate church services and events, as well as school events, and the Penguins are working out the details with the lots and garages.
So far, the response from the public has been mixed, with high support for inclusion and diversity within the sport but skepticism over the building choice and parking restrictions. The Penguins and their stakeholders hope to change the public’s mind as they continue approaching the grand opening of the rink.
“This is a trial. ... If the community loves it, we can look to come back next year, and it could become something more regular, more permanent in the future. We’re talking about one season, three months, to let us bring this to the community and do some good,” Mr. Acklin said.