Skating rink glides forward – where to?
Askater lacing up in a warm venue, reaching for a hot cocoa during a break and renting blades, if needed, is the image Parks and Recreation Commissioner Gene Goodman sees for Kiwanis Park.
In contrast, the hum of a 24-hour chiller to keep the ice hard, bright night lights and air pollution is what neighbors who live near the 13.8acre park at 73 Old Norwalk
Road envision.
The equipment for the rink, which includes a 120foot by 60-foot rink and a chiller, has been purchased for $50,000, supplied by donations, according to Rep Tom O’Dea, who spoke during a virtual Parks and Recreation Commission meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 9.
Now it is a matter of determining where to put the rink.
Commission Chairman Rona Siegel assured the neighbors their concerns would be heard and announced three people for a committee to determine the best location for the rink including: Robert ( Jake) Granito, Francesca Segalas and Hank Green, with help from New Canaan Senior Engineer, Joe Zogarenski.
O’Dea, who is spearheading the effort, explained he and others have looked at 36-acre Irwin Park at 848 Weed St.; 350-acre Waveny Park at 677 South Ave.; and Mead Memorial Park at 241 Park St.
“We have just about everything we need to open a 120 by 60 rink, a chiller, dasher boards, cooling mats, and an ice re-surfacer. The cost was $50,000. Fantastic deal,” O’Dea said on Dec. 10.
“As for the location of the rink, no one is set on anywhere. We have looked at three places in Kiwanis, seven places in Waveny, a couple at Mead, and at Irwin,” O’Dea said, for a venture he said he started over a decade ago.
Behind the YMCA, 564 South Ave., was considered in the past, but it was dismissed because having enough parking spaces has been a challenge.
“Kiwanis is a small park that has residential properties and neighbors on all sides in close proximity to the proposed site,” said a letter signed by Lauren Mottley and Robin Fletcher.
“Kiwanis Park does not have adequate facilities for the ice-skating rink, when compared with Waveny and Irwin parks, among other locations,” Jordan L. Cerbone of Old Norwalk Road, adjacent to Kiwanis Park, said.
“The wooded area along Kiwanis Park will not buffer against noise and light pollution from the proposed chillers, lights, and noise that will be generated by ice skating activities. We abutting neighbors deserve to enjoy the quietness and tranquility of our homes at night, as I have for the past 23 years,” Cerbone added.
“A pavilion like we have at Kiwanis,” would enable “moms or the parents with little kids who want to take a break, take a rest from the cold weather, be in an enclosed area which is heated,” Goodman said. “They do have minimal food accommodations there like hot cocoa and things like that.”
“When you want to change into skates it would be nice to have a place with tables and chairs where you can put your gear down you can change into your skates and walk to the men’s room,” Goodman said.
Mottley and Fletcher raised concerns about noise in addition to the constant hum of the chiller, with “Zambonis, additional car traffic, hockey practice and skaters.”
“I envision something similar to Westport “O’Dea said referring to Westport Pal Rink at Longshore Club Park.
“Our kids need safe, healthy activities that allow them to socialize with peers, now more than ever, and I believe this is a great way to accomplish that goal,” O’Dea said. That is why he supports “a community rink for all, especially youth, so they can get outside and socialize safely in this COVID environment.”
“The rink would have recreational skating which would be targeted primarily toward kids, because they are ones who are most likely to use it most of the time. But certainly seniors, anyone who can skate would be welcome,” Goodman said.
“There could be hockey practice there. We talked to girls varsity coach and the boys varsity coach, they are interested,” Goodman said.
“It would not be appropriate for full-size hockey games and there is no intent to do that. It is primarily for people who are interested in using it. It is not primarily focused to sports, but certainly not to exclude sports. We could have half of the rink at one time set up for hockey practice if they want it, but that is not the primary focus,” Goodman said.
“Kiwanis Park is still very much on the table — the group is interested in using the pavilion as a skate shop and warming area,” neighbor Betty Lovastik said in an email.