Date: Fri 30-Jun-1995

Publication: Bee

Author: KIMH

Illustration: I

Quick Words:

Ice-Rink

Full Text:

B Y   K IM   H ARMON

Finding ice in the summer is, of course, impossible, but finding it in the

winter hasn't been all that easy either - that is, if you plan on using that

ice for a little recreational skating or a game of hockey.

No, if you sling a pair of skates over your shoulder you will still have to

hop in the car and drive down to the Wonderland of Ice in Bridgeport, over to

the Canterbury School in New Milford, or up to The Taft School in Watertown.

Chances are, though, the hours you want to skate are the hours when the rink

is not available.

It's a problem.

But it's a problem Tom and Mary Ann Murtha are trying to do something about,

spearheading a plan to construct a 35,000-square-foot ice rink on 10 acres off

Barnabas Road in Sandy Hook, right beside the Connecticut Light & Power

facility. "There is very limited ice in the area," said Mary Ann. "Three of my

children play ice hockey and my husband plays. You talk to hockey players or

figure skaters or people who just like to skate for recreation, and it's a

very common thought that there's just not enough ice in the area."

She couldn't pinpoint when the idea of a local ice rink was actually voiced,

but it no doubt germinated during the early morning hours while she trekked

one, two, or three of her young skaters up to Canterbury School for practice.

And now the idea is tantalizingly close to reality.

The Murthas have a builder, have an architect, have a trustee (Mark Korotash)

to manage the funds, have some investors lined up, and will be able to

purchase the 10-acre parcel from Bud Hawley.

All they need now is the blessing of Newtown Planning and Zoning - a blessing

coming in the form of a variance to the M-1 zone.

A meeting to decide that has been scheduled for Thursday, July 6.

If the variance is granted, and approval follows on the architectural

blueprints, then a rink could be up as early as next September - just in time

for fall programs and the winter hockey season.

"If we got our approvals quickly," said Mary Ann, "and we got our investors

quickly, we would like to open by September of next year. Why not? If we're

going to do it, then let's do it. Once everything is in place, it would only

take about six months to get it up and operational. A lot of programs get

started in September, so the timing would be good."

The 35,000-square-foot building will include seating for about 500 people, a

little pro shop area, a snack bar, bathrooms and locker room areas, and a

mechanical/maintenance room for the Zamboni or similar ice-clearing machine.

And outside, a parking area large enough for at least 150 cars would be

created. Projected cost of construction is around $2 million.

The Murthas believe the rink would be rented to about 75% capacity in its

first year, 80% in its second year, and 90% in its third year. It would be an

11-month operation, closed in July or August for maintenance and to avoid the

high cost of keeping ice during the height of summer.

The investors would own the rink, but a board of directors would run the rink

and a full-time, paid rink manager would manage things. The Murthas are

hopeful the rink could make money for its investors, although the organization

itself will be non-profit.

"There are many of us, really," said Mary Ann, "who are very enthusiastic

about it. It seems like the logical thing to do, to try and get a rink built

here in Newtown. Park and Rec, Planning and Zoning, and (first selectman) Bob

Cascella have all been supportive and helpful."

As ice skating (and hockey ) seems to have gained popularity in the last

couple of years, so has the idea of constructing rinks. Danbury is on the

verge of approving an ice skating rink for a downtown parcel of land once

maintained by developer John Errichetti.

A Zoning Commission regulation put a bit of a hitch in the plans recently, but

city officials appear ready to make the necessary changes in the laws to allow

the rink to be built.

"Wouldn't that be the best of both worlds," Mary Ann said. "Everybody would

get to skate."

And with people willing to spend the money - anywhere from $125 per hour to

$210 per hour depending on which rink and what time of day - everybody stands

to benefit.

Once the rink was operational, the board of directors would push for a youth

hockey program on top of the figure skating and recreational skating programs

sure to be included. And then, sometime in the future, the push may be made

for an ice hockey program to return to Newtown High School.

The rink would also be able to service high schools like Bethel, who are

forced to practice at Canterbury School in New Milford in the early morning

hours because it is the only ice time available.

"Bethel has some really challenging practice times," said Mary Ann. "I bring

my kids up to practice at 6 am on school days and as I pull into the lot at

5:30, the Bethel kids are just finishing their practice. I would hope that

other area high schools, not just Newtown . . . whoever needs ice . . . would

come down.

"We want to make ice accessible to anyone who wants it," she added.

Note: The Murthas are still looking for investors interested in backing the

project. For further information on that, or on the plan itself, call Mary Ann

at 426-5305.