Renovations Bring New Life to Old Rink

On the last day of summer vacation Tuesday, more than 100 local skaters attended the reopening of Veterans Memorial Skating Rink.

The Summer Street rink, operated by the town's Recreation Department, underwent $1 million worth of renovations this summer, including a number of drastic changes meant to improve the rink's energy efficiency and functionality.

"It's basically a new rink," said Dave Cunningham, the rink's facilities manager. "I'm very pleased with how it all turned out."

Cunningham said a new refrigeration system, low-emissivity ceiling and boilers were put in, among other alterations, to improve the rink's ice quality and efficiency. Due to the changes, the rink, previously unchanged since its construction in 1970, can now open at the beginning of August and remain on until the end of April, adding a month to each end of the season, according to Cunningham.

The reflective ceiling, which helps keep cold air in the building, also brightens the building.

The rink itself also received a complete overhaul, as a new rink bed, boards and glass were installed and its surface was increased from 185 to 197 feet, making it just 3 feet short of an NHL rink.

"Blue-line-to-blue-line, it used to be really tight," Cunningham said.

The penalty boxes and time keeper's box were also moved to the opposite side of the ice from the player benches, allowing the benches to be expanded to the regulation length of 30 feet.

Stands had to be removed behind one goal to accommodate the larger rink, but the seating is currently being moved to a corner, so capacity should remain the same.

The renovations were funded by $500,000 from the town's capital improvement fund and a $500,000 long-term bond, which will be paid back with the rink's fees, Cunningham said.

Fees at the rink increased last year but are the same this coming year, he said.

In addition to public skating, the rink is used by the Arlington High School and Arlington Catholic hockey teams and by Arlington Youth Hockey.