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Somerville committee hears plan to convert Founders' Ring to multiuse recreation space; finance items referred for recommendation
Summary
Parks officials proposed removable flooring and a multi-year plan to expand indoor recreation at Founders' Ring, including steps toward girls' middle-school hockey; the committee referred two finance items (including a $160,000 appropriation request) for recommendation.
Somerville Parks and Recreation staff on May 27 told the City Council committee they plan to convert Founders' Ring into a year-round, multiuse recreation space by installing removable flooring and programming aimed at teens, adults and youth, including steps to build middle-school girls' hockey opportunities.
Susan Neurkis, Parks and Recreation director, described summer 2024 pilot clinics and a multi-year plan: begin with summer girls' hockey clinics and a fall floor-hockey/clinic program in year one, expand middle-school collaboration and open-skate development in year two, and pursue intramural teams by year three. Neurkis said the department is working with Somerville Youth Hockey Association and other partners to grow interest and reduce barriers such as equipment and ice-time costs. "We responded to the community interest by organizing girls' hockey clinic' 14 girls ages 9 to 14 participated," Neurkis said.
Parks staff and committee members also discussed a related funding request: the mayor's appropriation request (item 250,456) to transfer $160,000 from free cash to the Department of Public Works'repairs-to-buildings account to fabricate and install courts/flooring at Founders' Ring, and an officer's communication (item 250,576) updating the committee on cost and program information. The committee voted to refer both items for recommendation to the next stage.
Community stakeholders including Somerville Youth Hockey representatives and parents addressed the committee, urging that ice-time needs for youth hockey and learn-to-skate programs be preserved or prioritized. Greg Roboto, a board member of Somerville Youth Hockey, said the rink has been "very discouraging to see it unused for the past couple of years," and offered the association's help if the facility can support year-round use.
Parks staff said the proposed flooring is removable, which preserves the future option of returning the facility to ice if circumstances change. Director Neurkis and Parks staff emphasized the department's intent to work closely with existing ice users and FMC (the arena operator) to prioritize Somerville residents and youth when scheduling ice time at Veterans Memorial Arena and to consult users while implementing the Founders' plan.
Committee members asked about temperature control, flooring choice and impacts on current users; staff said the facility has experienced cold winters and hot summers and that the floor installation alone would not address HVAC issues. Parks noted pilot non-ice programming from September to December served about 1,000 people (drop-in, teens, adult programs and stand-alone events), and that two one-day events reached roughly 400 participants.
The committee referred the finance items (250,576 and 250,456) for recommendation with a roll-call vote recorded as two votes in favor. Committee leadership said staff will continue to consult directly with Somerville Youth Hockey, learn-to-skate providers and other users as the project moves forward.
Next steps: the referred finance items will proceed through the Council recommendation process; Parks staff will continue outreach and coordination with ice users, youth organizations and FMC to refine scheduling and the multi-year program plan.
