New Pre-Application Hits P&Z for Hamill Rink: Features “The Flip”

Greenwich Planning & Zoning has received a new pre-application for replacement of the existing Town Dorothy Hamill skating rink at 1 Sue Merz Way in Byram.

The pre-application gives a lengthy history of the rink and how it was originally created as an open air rink, with walls, roof and warming hut added over time in a “patchwork.”

Original Hamill Rink in a black and white photo on display in the rink today.

Hamill Rink was originally an open air facility. Late a roof was added, followed eventually by walls.

Existing Hamill rink is tucked into the southeast corner of Morlot Park.

Previously there was a similar application to P&Z made by Al Monelli on behalf of the town a few years ago. Monelli has since retired.

Today, Luigi Romano’s name is on the application. He replaced Mr. Monelli as Superintendent of Building Construction & Maintenance.

The letter attached to the pre-application says the proposal is again for a new 40,500 sq ft rink. It would have a gable The location would be on the existing Strazza ball field north of the existing rink which would make it possible to operate the rink while the new one is under construction.

In the similar pre-application submitted in 2021, there was a proposed new access road from Western Junior Highway so that cars wouldn’t have to enter from the residential side via Sherman Ave to Sue Merz Way, where there is a hill. That access road is not included in the new pre-applicaiton.

Per the narrative letter on the new pre-application, once completed, the existing rink would be demolished and replaced by a new 90 ft hard ball baseball diamond.

A pedestrian walking path would encircle the ballfield and rink.

The current access via Sherman Ave would remain and a roundabout constructed in the middle of the park, “to draw focus into the park and to the Veterans memorial Tree Grove.” Veterans from Byram have repeatedly expressed concern about protecting the memorial grove.

Notably, in 2021, there was neighborhood opposition. At the time neighbors testified before P&Z commission via zoom to oppose the park’s green space effectively being split in two.

That is the impact of “the flip,” putting the rink in the middle of the green space in order to keep the original rink in operation during construction of the new rink and demolishing it afterward.

Back in 2021 P&Z chair Margarita Alban noted the proposal would result in extensive re-grading of the parkland and would disturb 100% of the property where the rink is to be located, removing vegetation, trees and plantings.

More recently, in 2022, another pre-application was submitted that did not feature “the flip.” Instead, it proposed Hamill Rink to be rebuilt on its existing footprint, seemingly in response to neighbors’ objections, including via the Byram Neighborhood Association.

The pre-application has yet to be scheduled for a P&Z meeting. Stay tuned. See also: