Construction now underway on Boucher Community Ice Rink
NEW CANAAN — A wooden frame is being constructed and the chiller has been installed for New Canann’s Boucher Community Ice Rink at Waveny Park as of Tuesday.
State Rep. Tom O’Dea forecasts people will be able to skate on it in three weeks, depending on Eversource, as the company needs to make an upgrade to a nearby transformer, which will then be connected to the rink.
The contracting company ML Builders is currently working on the 60 x 120-squarefoot rink, which will be located on the stone parking lot between the softball field and the adult fitness area at the 300-acre park at 677 South Ave.
The rink and two tents are expected to operate only during skating months, while the chiller will remain permanently on a concrete pad with an 8-foot cedar fence around it, according to the approval by Planning and Zoning Commission in November.
Former state Sen. Toni Boucher donated $100,000 at the tail end of 2020 and, in return, the New Canaan Ice Rink’s board unanimously agreed to name the rink after the former state politician and her late husband, Bud. “We’re extremely excited and appreciative of all the efforts over the last almost two decades to get to this point, especially of Toni Boucher’s support, without which we would not be here,” O’Dea said.
One tent will be used by two employees, with one operating the Zamboni and another checking skaters into the rink, according to O’Dea during presentation to P&Z. A Zamboni has been purchased and the group is looking for a sponsor, perhaps for naming rights, for a $30,000 donation, O’Dea said.
Fundraising is going well, “but we still need to raise money,” O’Dea said. “I would ask all supporters to buy a season pass for $500 and consider being an ice angel,” or help “at whatever level you can afford.”
Since the rink is not supported by the town, the supporters of the rink will be “raising money every year to pay for tents and raise capital to cover any repairs needed to the chiller or other parts of the rink as needed,” the state senator said.
The ice is expected to be 2 to 4 inches thick, and the water source is expected to be at Waveny Park. “We can also truck in water to the extent needed,” O’Dea said.
The rink may be taken down as early as February, but the length of the season will be dependent on fundraising, O’Dea said. The total operating costs are expected to hover around $175,000.
The chiller and equipment were purchased from Hunt Club of Westport for $75,000 and are currently stored on town property.
“There have been dozens who have worked on the project over the last couple decades,” O’Dea said. “It was Keith Simpson, who went to Gene Goodman, who then got this latest effort off the ground.
“Gene and I then thankfully got Kerra Smith, Rita Bettino, Pavla Levin, Scott Roe and Sarah Arestia involved, and they are the ones who got us over the finish line.”