Skating Rink Replacement Project
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
Sign up to receive our newsletter to stay informed with quarterly publications and announcements of major project milestones.
-
Rink Replacement Project Newsletter February 2023
The Rink Replacement Project is making significant progress. Read on... -
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...
Related Documents & Information
Site Plan Pre-Application (PDF)
SFA Dorothy Hamill Rink Community Engagement Survey-January 2023 (PDF) - Survey Supplemental Appendix (PDF)
Eugene Morlot Memorial Park Naming Resolution Approval 11/24/21 (PDF)
Rink Replacement Site Plan 11/2021 (PDF)
Rink Replacement Floor Plan 11/2021 (PDF)
Eugene Morlot Memorial Park Historical Review 8-20-21 (PDF)
Hamill Rink Meeting - Public Q&A 6-24-21 (PDF)
SLAM Presentation - 5/26/21 (PDF)
SLAM Presentation - 5/5/21(PDF)
30% Design Process Steps - DPW Construction Projects (PDF)
Survey by Langan April 2021 (PDF)
Site Conditions - Strazza Field (PDF) - Excerpt from the Athletic Field Study Report conducted by Weston & Sampson (2020)
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 Member | Representing Organization |
---|---|
Michael Armstrong | Veterans-Byram VFW |
Mike Bocchino | Board of Parks and Recreation |
Brent Brower | Greenwich Skating Club |
Bill Drake, Chairman | B.E.T. |
Jack Duffy | Greenwich High School |
Liz Eckert | Byram Neighborhood Association |
Rich Ernye | Department of Parks and Recreation |
Nancy Leamy | Greenwich Skating School |
Rick Loh | Board of Parks and Recreation |
Nick Macri | Veterans - Byram VFW |
Keith Orrico | Cardinal Youth Hockey |
Sue Snyder | Department of Parks and Recreation |
Project Management Team | Title |
Luigi Romano | Project Manager, DPW |
Steve O'Hurley | Building Maintenance and Construction |
Joe Siciliano | Director 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.