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Hockey and figure-skating advocates press for ice rink; design team says ice not included in preliminary plan
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Summary
Several speakers urged adding an ice rink to address lack of local ice access; project staff said the initial market analysis noted ice users but did not include ice in the current sports-complex program.
Hockey players, figure skaters and parents asked county staff and designers to include ice in the St. Mary’s County sports-complex plans, saying local teams and skaters now travel out of county for ice time.
"Are there any possibilities for including an ice or roller rink in the design, or is that off the table?" asked Nick Wright, who spoke for the local hockey community. Multiple other speakers — including youth coaches and parents — described regular travel to rinks in Waldorf, Bowie and other counties for practices and competitions.
Project staff answered that the 2020 market and economic study documented some demand for ice from local user groups but did not support including ice in the sports-tourism‑oriented program presented for this preliminary phase. "So we didn't include ICE this time, but if the county commissioners in the future want to add ICE, they can," a project representative said. The team described ice as a separate potential investment that would require its own feasibility, funding and operating plan.
Figure-skating advocates and youth-hockey parents said the absence of local ice limits athlete development and competitive opportunities. "There is 0 availability of that in this county," said Steve Wright, noting the county currently has no public ice sheet and urging consideration of an ice facility either alongside the proposed complex or as a near-term adjacent project.
Designers and county staff encouraged advocates to complete the survey and noted that the information collected will be reviewed by recreation planners for future facility decisions. They also repeated that operational and funding decisions would be determined in later phases if the county elects to proceed past preliminary design and cost estimating.
