Grand Plans for a New Greenwich Skating Rink

On Tuesday, March 3, the Greenwich Planning & Zoning (P&Z) Commission took a critical step in reviewing the MI (Municipal Improvement) and preliminary site plan for a new ice hockey rink (a.k.a. skating arena) near the Dorothy Hamill Rink in Eugene Morlot Memorial Park. Approval is being sought for a significantly larger 40,671-square-foot, 35-foot-high ice skating arena. Once completed, the existing 31,258-square-foot (approximately 25-foot-high) Dorothy Hamill Rink will be demolished.

Key Highlights From the Plan

The full report of the task force here includes significant changes to the park:

Relocation & Design: The proposed facility has been shifted further north, running parallel to Western Junior Highway. The "flip" is intended to increase the distance from residential homes on Sherman Avenue and protect the Byram Veterans Memorial Tree Grove. Plans incorporate sustainability features like EV chargers, pollinator gardens, and potential geothermal heating.

Park Enhancements: The plan includes a new 90-foot baseball diamond (replacing Strazza Field), expanded walking paths, a permanent concession stand (replacing the previous food truck concept), and indoor/outdoor accessible bathrooms.

Concerns Raised at Meeting

Despite the "Task Force" efforts to be more inclusive, the meeting revealed several sticking points:

Green Space Loss: Commissioner Mary Jenkins and local residents questioned the loss of parkland, arguing the project feels more like a "destination arena" than a neighborhood rink.

Infrastructure:  The project introduces a new two-way access road off Western Junior Highway, which raised concerns among commissioners regarding traffic and the total "disturbance" of the park (estimated at 6.5 acres).

The "Alternative Site" Debate: Critics, including former RTM members, continue to argue that the town should have used the "Exit 3" sites (like the Horseneck lot) to avoid destroying green space in Byram, though the Task Force formally disqualified those sites due to high costs and flood zone risks.

Budgetary Pressure: The project cost is now estimated at $41.2 million—and will likely climb. Some residents have urged the Board of Estimate and Taxation (BET) to reject the funding, calling the design "elaborate" and "non-conforming." Opponents also argue a simpler replacement should cost half the price and the larger arena would necessitate commercializing operations beyond the scope of a residential park.

What’s Next?

March 9 P&Z Site Visit: A P&Z Commission site visit to Eugene Morlot Memorial Park is scheduled for Monday at 2:00 PM to evaluate the layout in person. The public can join as observers to visualize the layout.

March 17 P&Z Public Hearing: The next formal hearing is scheduled for Tuesday at 4:00 pm via Zoom.

March 26 BET Public Hearing: Thursday at 7:00 pm at Town Hall. This is the primary opportunity for the public to speak about the large price tag before they take their final vote on March 31.

May 7 P&Z Deadline: The commission must move forward to a final decision on the site plan by this date.

If the RTM funds the project in May and P&Z approves the plan by June, the town will seek bids in July, aiming for a late 2026 groundbreaking.

Between the Lines: Say goodbye to the old neighborhood rink and hello to the Greenwich Skating Emporium.

Video here