Escondido council approves MOU to explore Rings Foundation ice facility at Kit Carson Park

Mayor White and the City Council voted unanimously on June 2 to adopt a nonbinding memorandum of understanding with the Rings Foundation that allows the city and the foundation to begin formal exploration of a proposed, privately funded three-sheet ice sports facility at Kit Carson Park.

The MOU, adopted as resolution 2026-87, authorizes staff to proceed with community outreach, technical review and the steps needed to evaluate the project’s feasibility, including entitlement and environmental review. Acting for the foundation, Matthew Hicks described the concept as “Escondido Ice,” a facility modeled on Great Park Ice in Irvine and intended to be fully funded and operated by the Rings Foundation without direct capital costs to Escondido taxpayers.

The staff presentation by Deputy City Manager Joanna Axelrod said the foundation has pledged to cover construction, operation and maintenance and has offered $4 million to relocate the adult softball complex if the Kit Carson site moves forward. Axelrod told the council staff had secured a concurrence from the California Department of Housing and Community Development that the proposal would be exempt from the Surplus Land Act, allowing the city to publicly discuss and analyze the concept.

Supporters emphasized access and youth programming. Jessie Chen, a competitive skater, told the council that after local rinks closed “Escondido was one of my favorite skating facilities,” and said a new rink would let young athletes train closer to home. Penny Cordero, a high-school skater, said a nearby rink would let students ride public transit and practice after school.

Opponents urged caution. Ruth Weber, who lives near Kit Carson Park, said Kit Carson is a heavily used public park and asked councilmembers to visit the Irvine facility before committing. Christina Miller raised environmental and safety concerns, including the site’s proximity to San Pasqual High School and potential refrigerant hazards, and warned against privatizing parkland without strong safeguards. “The public return does not match the public risk,” Miller said.

Council members stressed the MOU is only the next step in a lengthy public process. Mayor White moved to adopt the resolution; Councilmember Fitzgerald seconded. The motion passed 5–0. The council and staff emphasized that the MOU is nonbinding, that a future lease agreement and environmental reviews would be required before construction, and that the city will hold community meetings on June 9 and June 13 to solicit further input and address concerns about traffic, public access and program affordability.

If the project advances, the proposed lease terms in the MOU call for a 25-year initial lease with options to extend up to a total of 50 years, with a set percentage of operating hours reserved for public programming. City staff said a future lease and any concession terms would return to council for approval and that the MOU does not obligate the city to approve a lease or construction.

Next steps: staff will begin the public outreach described in the MOU, commission technical studies and, if appropriate, bring a draft lease and environmental review documents to council later this summer for consideration.