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Town rink task force recommends Morlot Park site; board hears plan for Dorothy Hamill rink replacement
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Summary
A town task force presented a plan to relocate and rebuild the Dorothy Hamill rink at Morlot Park, emphasizing community outreach, the REM evaluation matrix, keeping existing ice operational during construction, and park enhancements; the school board heard the presentation as tenant stakeholders.
Representatives of the town’s Hamill Rink Task Force briefed the Greenwich Board of Education on March 19 about a proposed new site and preliminary design for a modern Dorothy Hamill rink.
Task force secretary Steph Cowie summarized the committee’s process: the team analyzed roughly 200 town parcels and 12 finalist locations using a Rink Evaluation Matrix (REM) that weighed flood risk, soils, cost, size and alignment with the Plan of Conservation and Development. "After deeply analyzing 12 different locations from approximately 200 town‑owned parcels, we ultimately landed at Morlot Park," Cowie said, explaining the decision came after significant public engagement and two public hearings.
Luigi Romano, the town’s director of building construction, maintenance and facilities, walked the board through the proposed Morlot Park layout. He emphasized two features the task force prioritized: (1) the ability to construct the new facility while keeping the existing rink operational, and (2) park‑level improvements that enlarge and centralize green space and improve site access (including a proposed secondary access and relocated parking). Romano said the design also includes an NHL‑size sheet and four locker rooms, increased tree plantings to screen neighbors and improved accessibility.
Why the board heard it: Greenwich Public Schools are a major tenant of the current facility and several trustees wanted reassurance programmatic needs (high school teams and youth programs) would be protected. Cowie and Romano said existing programming, especially for high school teams, relies on maintaining operations during construction; the task force cited community support and stakeholder outreach in Byram and beyond.
Next steps: The presentation was preliminary site design; the task force will continue into final design and coordinate with Parks & Rec and the town architect to refine programming details and address questions about Special Olympics and community access. The board did not vote on any action but thanked task force members for the briefing.
