Codey Arena: ‘Cool’ Ice Rink Improvements Coming To South Mountain Complex

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Essex County officials have announced the start of a $2.8 million renovation project at the South Mountain Recreation Complex’s Codey Arena in West Orange, the first major renovation of Rink 1 since the facility opened in 1958.

According to county officials, the renovations will include a new refrigeration system that will “enable the arena to operate more efficiently and provide a better ice skating surface.”

Here’s what county officials had to say about the project:

“The existing refrigeration system was installed when the arena opened 59 years ago and is no longer operating at optimum capacity. In order to replace the original refrigeration system, the dasher boards and glass, and concrete floor under the ice surface were removed. After the refrigeration system is completed, new concrete flooring, rubber matting, dasher boards and glass will be installed. In addition, a new video board will be installed.”

A similar project to upgrade the refrigeration system in Rink 2, which originally opened in 1983, was completed in 2012, officials stated.

The arena currently serves several local athletic organizations and civic groups, such as the New Jersey Devils Youth Hockey Club, the New Jersey Daredevils Hockey Club, Special Olympic Skaters, The Essex Skating Club of New Jersey, Essex County High School Hockey Teams, New Jersey Interscholastic High School League Cup Playoffs, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Championship Playoffs, multiple adult hockey clubs and the Garden State Speedskating Club.

Special events hosted at the Arena include the Essex County Athletic Directors Wrestling Tournament, High School Commencement Ceremonies, Essex Skating Club Winter ESCapade, and the NJSIAA Ice Hockey Tournament.

“We upgraded the refrigeration system in Rink 2 and added a 10,000-square-foot addition to enhance accommodations to transform the arena into a modern venue for ice skating, hockey and a multitude of non-ice events,” Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. said. “Replacing the refrigeration system in Rink 1 is the last major improvement that is needed.”

“My daughter skated here when she was young, so it’s exciting to see all the improvements being done,” Essex County Freeholder Patricia Sebold said.

According to county officials, Becht Engineering of Liberty Corner received a $145,300 contract to design the upgrades. Colonnelli Brothers of Hackensack received a publicly bid contract for $2,676,567 to perform the construction work.

The project is being funded through the Essex County Capital Budget and with a grant from the Essex County Recreation and Open Space Trust Fund.

Construction started in March 2017 and is scheduled to be completed by September 2017, officials said.

Send local news tips, photos and press releases to eric.kiefer@patch.com

Main Photo: Essex County