GREENWICH, CT — The Greenwich Planning & Zoning Commission has postponed a vote on the proposed Dorothy Hamill Rink replacement project, citing the need for more time to review the project and community feedback.
A motion to defer a decision on Municipal Improvement status and a preliminary site plan to Dec. 10 passed by a vote of 5-0.
“Our task between now and then is to read the voluminous comments and information we’ve received, and to come to a solid decision on behalf of the town and of the neighborhood,” said P&Z Chair Margarita Alban.
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The town is looking to build a new 40,671-square-foot ice rink at the location of the current baseball field — Strazza Field — north of the existing Dorothy Hamill Rink in Byram within Eugene Morlot Memorial Park.
Once the new rink is up and running, the existing facility would be demolished and a new baseball diamond would be constructed.
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The proposal calls for improved vehicular circulation at the site, a walking path for passive recreation throughout the park, and additional signage to both identify a grove of memorial trees dedicated to Byram veterans and the Thomas Lyon House, the oldest unaltered colonial home in town.
Opponents of the proposal have cited concerns with increased traffic and congestion, and impact to the surrounding neighborhood. Others have criticized the large facility’s potential impact on the park and a loss of green space due to the flipping of the baseball field and the ice rink.
Proponents have said the proposal would enhance the Eugene Morlot Memorial Park while providing an upgraded skating facility to residents.
The current Dorothy Hamill Rink was built in 1972 essentially as a slab of ice. It was then built up in a piecemeal fashion, leading to disrepair over the years to the point that it needs to be replaced.
First Selectman Fred Camillo created the Rink User Committee for Design and Planning to help with the development of a new rink and to serve as a community liaison.
The Greenwich Department of Public Works brought the project forward last year to P&Z, but officials decided to pursue Municipal Improvement status first, a vital step to secure appropriations.
As for the cost, no money is included in the FY 2024-2025 budget, but there is $980,000 slated for fiscal year 2026 for design and planning, and $23 million is forecast for fiscal year 2027 for construction.
Camillo, a big proponent of public/private partnerships, has said the town has “an anchor donor ready to go” to help with funding.
Under a public/private partnership, a new rink could still be referred to as the Dorothy Hamill Rink, an homage to Hamill who is from Greenwich and won Olympic gold, but the building would be renamed.
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