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Organizers urge reconsideration of denied Mine Falls pond-hockey permit
Summary
Puck Pirates Pond Hockey LLC asked the Board of Public Works to revisit a parks-and-recreation denial of a permit to hold a pond-hockey tournament on the Mine Falls canal, presenting a safety plan and proposing a community-focused, low-cost event that would share revenue with local high-school hockey programs.
Organizers of a proposed pond-hockey tournament asked the Board of Public Works on July 30 to reconsider a permit denial for Mine Falls, arguing the event would boost winter recreation and support local high-school hockey programs.
“My name is Michael Curtin, and this is Wyatt Salish Serber,” Curtin told the board, describing the proposal as “like combining hockey and hiking” and laying out an operations plan that includes on-site monitoring, participant waivers, ice-thickness verification, first-aid/CPR-certified staff and insurance. Curtin said the applicants envision up to 64 adult teams, entry fees around $200 per team, and a portion of each team’s fee going back to the recruiting high-school program.
Applicant Wyatt Salish Serber said they applied for a January permit but were denied by the Parks and Recreation Department for safety reasons. “We were disappointed to receive the permit denial from parks and recreation department, citing safety concerns,” he said, and asked the city to rereview the submitted operations plan and waiver materials.
City staff told the board the application is being reviewed by multiple safety offices. One staff member said the risk management department, the fire marshal and the emergency management director are all part of the review and that those offices — not Parks and Recreation alone — will make the final safety determination. The board did not vote on the proposal during public comment; staff said they would notify applicants once the risk review is complete.
Why it matters: The organizers framed the event as a low-cost community activity that could increase winter use of public space and return funds to local hockey programs. City safety officials flagged unpredictable ice conditions where moving water is present and said those technical safety concerns will determine whether a permit can be issued.
