Come Fall, East Haven's Hockey Rink Should Be Ready For Skaters

EAST HAVEN, CT —Shuttered since March 2020, the town closed the Veteran's Memorial Ice Rink due to years of disrepair, officials said.

"The degradation of a facility, through wear and tear and because of a lack of scheduled maintenance over the years, led to the need to close it," East Haven Mayor Joseph A. Carfora said. in his State of the Town address last week.

Now, construction is underway as the popular rink is being renovated.

Carfora said the rink has been a source of "pride for the community," as well as being a "recreation asset."

And though it's been a long time coming, with the pandemic not helping matters, the rink will rise again.

"A project like this does not happen quickly," Carfora said, but added work is underway. "Bids have been open and work has begun. Dasher boards and chillers are being removed, chillers removed. It's happening."

The town contracted with design group SLAM, one of the "premier rink design groups in the country," Carfora said. "It has been a pleasure dealing with them and their professional team."

So when can folks get back on the ice?

" We are looking forward to a grand reopening this fall," Carfora said.