Ice Rink Task Force Presents Final Report
Majority of Clayton Residents Want the Rink to Remain Open
October 10, 2007
At the Oct. 9, 2007 Board of Aldermen meeting, Clayton’s Ice Rink Task Force presented its final report. The group recommended hiring a consultant to review specific design consideration for a year-round, covered, open-air, multi-purpose facility at the current ice rink site with renovations and potential new buildings.
In November 2006, the Board decided to establish a Task Force to study the current operations and to make recommendations regarding the long-term viability of the rink. The need to review costs related to repairing and operating the ice rink became apparent when the City was forced to close the ice rink for the 2006-2007 season due to expenses and delays needed for repairs.
The Shaw Park Ice Rink, Clayton's open-air skating rink, opened in 1960. The last major repairs were made in 1998. Since that time, the City has continued to make interim repairs in order to keep the aging rink operating. For the past two years, expenses have escalated, while revenues and usage have been negatively impacted by the reduction of ice time as a result of warmer temperatures. The Ice Rink has experienced at 17% loss of ice time due to reflective sunlight glare from surrounding buildings which has resulted in a corresponding 12% loss of ice rental revenue. The Board was encouraged to proceed with a study, when the results of a survey, conducted by the City Parks & Recreation Department, indicated that the vast majority of Clayton residents (67%) want the Ice
Rink to remain open.
During the ten month study, the 15- member committee, composed of residents from each of Clayton’s three wards, Ward III Alderman Alex Berger III and Ward II Alderman Michelle Harris, reviewed reports from two consulting firms. Jacobs Engineering reviewed the physical site and presented alternatives. Their analysis showed that the cost and parking demands of a fully enclosed rink would be prohibitive. Their report also concluded that improving the food services would create a multi-use facility which would benefit a greater number of the Clayton residents and maximize the profitability of the site. The improved food services would serve the 120,000 patrons that use the Shaw Park Pool, Tennis Courts and Ice Rink each year.
Ballard-King analyzed the possible markets and operations of both a fully enclosed ice rink and a covered, open-air ice rink, and concluded that an enclosed rink would create a glut on the market. The covered facility would have an improved cost-recovery ratio compared to the current rink, due to improved ice time and year round use by other sports, such as lacrosse, field hockey and soccer. These sports are projected to have an increased demand for practice fields in the future. There is also potential summertime use of a covered, open-air facility with summer camps, t-ball, outdoor concerns and special events, which would result in additional revenue and increased usage.
