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 equipment, building systems and fixtures. The Town intends to build a new, high quality single rink facility on the property capable of serving Town users for the decades to come.
The public Eugene Morlot Memorial Park of 13.4 acres includes the rink, Strazza Field baseball diamond, 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 new facility will be at the location of the existing rink. Today’s ballfield will be replaced by an improved Strazza field on the same site. The improved Strazza field will be properly sized and oriented. Also proposed is a new two‐lane access driveway from Western Junior Highway directly into the existing parking lot. This will be an improvement in safety.
In the approved budgets for fiscal years 2020 and 2021, 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. After a competitive selection process, SLAM Collaborative of Glastonbury, CT was chosen to as architects to design the new facility. A preliminary schedule of milestones for the project is:
Project Schedule for New Rink in the Existing Location
Preparation for Municipal Improvement and Preliminary Site Plan | March '22-June '22 |
Board of Selectmen consider MI Status | June ‘22 – July ‘22 |
Presentation of MI and Preliminary Site Plan to P & Z | Sept ‘22 – Feb ‘23 |
Budget Request, appropriation for completion of design (construction) | Nov ‘22 – May ‘23 |
Creation of Public/Private Partnership | 2022 |
Completion of Land Use Process – MI & Final Site Plan | May ‘23 |
Design funds to complete construction drawings available | July ‘23 |
Budget request, appropriation for construction | Nov ‘23 – May ‘24 |
SLAM completes construction drawings for bidding | March ‘24 |
Funds for construction available | July ‘24 |
Commencement of construction | Oct ‘24 |
New Rink Complete | Jan ‘27 |
Strazza Field Complete | May ‘27 |
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.
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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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
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)
Western Middle School Site Review 9/22/21 (PDF)
Western Middle School Property Boundaries 8/24/21 (PDF)
Western Middle School Field Sketches 6/16/21 (PDF)
Rink Replacement Project Fact Sheet (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)
Have questions concerning the project? Please contact us.