Politics & Government

Dix Hills Finally Gets a Second Slab of Ice

After many battles, the 43,232-square-foot rink is slated to open this fall.

Construction over a once-fought-over ice rink in Dix Hills is nearly complete, and officials say the "second slab of ice" should be open for business by October.

The new, state-of-the-art ice skating facility, originally authorized by the town of Huntington on August 2006, will adjoin the existing rink building in Dix Hills Park.

The new facility will add a total of 43, 232 square feet to the existing structure of 36,554 square feet. The new rink was constructed on the old rink's parking lot, and a new parking area with 70 spots has been built.

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According to the town, in addition to the new ice surface, the new rink will have four locker rooms with restrooms and showers; an upgraded concession stand with two adjacent party rooms; new restroom facilities for men and women; a new lobby with seating; a weight training room; elevated bleachers for 447 spectators; a new main office and skate rental booth; and a new pro shop.

When the new rink is completed, the first one will close temporarily so that it can be renovated.

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"The original rink has been in disrepair for years," said Councilwoman Susan Berland – who has been fighting for the rink for years. 

When all the work is done, the two ice rinks will operate as one skating facility, managed and maintained by Town of Huntington employees.

"It makes total economic sense to build the second slab of ice contiguous with the first slab – now there is no need for a second set of employees and apparatus," Berland said. Indeed, a new central maintenance area will have combined condensers for both ice surfaces and the Zamboni will be used to maintain both rinks.

But back when the measure first passed, residents and one political opponent to Berland cried foul over the plans. In the fall of 2007, the Residents Against the Overdevelopment of Dix Hills Park met with Huntington Town Supervisor Frank Petrone, Berland, Director of Parks Don McKay and Margo Myles, coordinator of Open Space Conservation for the town, to discuss the plans for the new ice rink.

At that meeting, one resident, Jim Tranchina, said, "There are better uses for this money. How about fixing the flooded roads? Vanderbilt Parkway constantly floods. Why don't they use the money for that? Why do all the tax-paying residents in the town have to pony up for this?"

Petrone said, "It's a heavily used old rink, desperately in need of repair. It doesn't have to be used solely for ice skating. "

For example, Petrone said they could put a new surface under the ice that would let kids play sports like  basketball. There will also be a weight-training room at the facility available to all town residents.

Berland explained that the rink would not lose money that taxpayers would have to make up. "Ice skating is incredibly expensive. And we are never going to have ice time that's not paid for. We will always run in the black," she said.

The opening of the new rink also means a new championship venue for the Long Island Rebels hockey team, which has been playing at the ice rink but could never have a tournament there because the rink was in such disrepair. The rink will host the 2010-2011 Tier II  Squirt 10U  New York State Championships on March 4.

Berland said this is the first time any tournament will be held at the Dix Hills Ice Rink.

"It was hard for anyone — the figure skaters, the ice hockey players, the teens who wanted to skate — it was hard for any of them to get ice time. Imagine if there was only one soccer field in the entire town," she said. "Or one football field. With only one slab of ice, the time could only be sliced up so many ways."

Now, she said, the ice rink will have more teen nights, which are a "safe night for kids to have fun," Berland said. She also wants to see senior nights, a handicapped night, an autism night, as well as a Special Olympics of skating.

Berland said that the town has addressed all the concerns that the residents against the ice skating rink had. "They thought we were going to cut down trees needlessly, but that didn't happen. They were worried that we wouldn't have enough parking but we have ample parking spots. We fixed all the lighting concerns that they had."

The original ice rink was built as an outdoor rink in 1975, Berland said, and the town enclosed it in 1985.

"This needed to be done," Berland concluded. "The new rink is going to be absolutely incredible when it's finished. I can't wait."


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