Greenwich's Hamill Rink: First Selectman favors the "Flip"
- Jan 22
- 2 min read
Ten months after convening a second task force to study the replacement of the town-owned Dorothy Hamill Ice Rink, First Selectman Fred Camillo has his answer. The task force officially recommended building the new rink adjacent to the current 54-year-old facility in Eugene Morlot Memorial Park—a plan commonly known as "the flip." You can read the full report here.
The slow road to consensus.
The recommendation is essentially the same "flip" proposed by the Selectman two years ago—and the same one the Representative Town Meeting (RTM) rejected in January 2025. After a year of further study, the town finds itself back at the same crossroads.
The expensive road to consensus. The cost of this project, which has been under study for over a decade, continues to climb. Originally estimated at $4 million, the price tag hit $35 million by the time of the RTM's 2025 rejection. According to Task Force Chair and BET member Matt DesChamps, the budget is now expected to exceed $40 million.
Persistent Opposition. Despite the Task Force's endorsement, local grumblings persist. Byram residents remain wary about shoehorning a rink into Morlot Park's dwindling green space, citing increased neighborhood density from recent housing developments. Adding to their worries are increased traffic and removal of trees.
Meanwhile, a vocal group of residents continues to advocate for a larger, more accessible complex near the central Greenwich train station and I-95. While the Rink Committee dismissed this "Exit 3" site due to potential soil contamination and a $52 million cost estimate, supporters argue that a premier downtown facility with vendors and concessions would generate the revenue needed to offset the higher upfront cost.
What's Next? The modified flip proposal now moves to the Board of Estimate and Taxation and will ultimately face the RTM for a final vote.
Between the Lines: Will the flip, flop, again? With Byram residents feeling protective of their park and "Exit 3" advocates pushing for a grander vision, the flip consensus may still be on thin ice.