Skating Rink Replacement Project

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Greenwich’s skating rink was built as an outdoor rink in 1971 and was designated as the Dorothy Hamill Skating Rink in 1976.  The rink is on Sue Merz Way in Byram on a site bordered by Western Jr. Highway.   The rink serves thousands of users each year: figure skaters, public skaters, youth hockey groups for boys and girls, and men’s and women’s teams from Greenwich High School.    At present, the 50‐year‐old facility has a number of fundamental and critical issues, notably substandard ice size and inadequate, aging, and non‐code‐compliant locker rooms, equipment, building systems and fixtures.  The Town will build a new, high quality single rink facility adjacent to the existing rink on today’s Strazza Field baseball diamond and construct a new Strazza Field on the footprint of today’s rink.  The new rink and improved Strazza Field will serve Town users with excellence for decades to come.   

The public Eugene Morlot Memorial Park of 13.4 acres includes the rink, Strazza Field, a parking lot, a playscape, swing set, the Byram Veterans’ Memorial Tree Grove, a wooded area and a grassy hillside.  The proposed plan is to construct a new rink of approximately 40,500 square feet with a gable roof centered over the ice.  The improved Strazza field will be properly sized and oriented.  Also under consideration is a new two‐lane driveway from Western Jr. Highway directly into the existing parking lot.  This would be an improvement in public access and traffic safety.   

In the approved budgets for fiscal years 2020, 2021 and 2022, the Representative Town Meeting and Board of Estimate and Taxation voted to provide funds to retain architects to develop preliminary plans for the new rink and Park infrastructure. After a competitive selection process, SLAM Collaborative of Glastonbury, CT was chosen as architects to design the new facility.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the rink being replaced? Why can’t the town just renovate the current facility? Get answers to common questions about this project by reviewing our Frequently Asked Questions (PDF).

Rink Project Newsletter

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  1. Rink Replacement Project Newsletter February 2023

    The Rink Replacement Project is making significant progress. Read on...
  2. Rink Replacement Project Newsletter February 2022

    Progress continues towards the creation of a modern, high-quality replacement for the Dorothy Hamill Skating Rink. Read on...
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Rink User Committee for Design & Planning

The First Selectman has created a Rink User Committee for Design and Planning to act as community liaisons and to assist in planning the project.  This Committee meets monthly, and public participation is encouraged.  

Committee MemberRepresenting Organization
Michael ArmstrongVeterans-Byram VFW
Mike BocchinoBoard of Parks and Recreation
Brent Brower Greenwich Skating Club
Bill Drake, ChairmanB.E.T.
Jack DuffyGreenwich High School
Liz EckertByram Neighborhood Association
Rich ErnyeDepartment of Parks and Recreation
Nancy LeamyGreenwich Skating School
Rick LohBoard of Parks and Recreation
Nick MacriVeterans - Byram VFW
Keith OrricoCardinal Youth Hockey
Sue SnyderDepartment of Parks and Recreation
Project Management TeamTitle
Luigi RomanoProject Manager, DPW
Steve O'HurleyBuilding Maintenance and Construction
Joe SicilianoDirector of Parks and Recreation

First Selectman Approved Committee - Roster (PDF)


Meeting Schedule May 2023 - June 2024 (PDF)

Have questions concerning the project?  Please contact us.