Los Alamos County Ice Rink is undergoing improvements including a new chiller, flooring and possibly a shade structure. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
The original ice rink during the Los Alamos Ranch School days. Courtesy/Los Alamos Historical Society
By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
Los Alamos’ open air ice rink has a 100 plus year history; it existed before the Manhattan Project and was a recreational hot spot for Los Alamos Ranch School boys who played hockey on it. A photograph captured the original rink, which appears more like a patch of ice surrounded by snow.
Flash forward and the ice rink has changed a lot. That patch of ice has transformed into a rink that is groomed by a Zamboni, has a cement sub floor, is maintained by a chiller and offers locker rooms and restrooms. More is even planned. A new chiller is scheduled to be installed, and plans are being made to construct a new ice rink floor. Plus, a potential project being considered is a shade structure.
A shade structure is not a new concept; this has been discussed for more than 20 years, Project Manager Miguel Jimenez said. In 2004, he said a retractable cover was considered but said it wouldn’t be feasible because the cover would have only protected the rink from sunlight, it didn’t account for wind or snow loads.
What design would work has not been determined yet. At this point in the project, the County is looking to the public to weigh in on the preferences and perspectives about the structure in order to inform the decision making process, Jimenez said. A survey is available here and will be open through Jan. 29. Then, during the March 13 Parks and Recreation Board meeting, three design options as well as the option to not do a structure will be released and feedback on the choices will be solicited. Also, a second survey will be opened to the public. A recommended design option would then be presented to Council for its approval.
Jimenez said a shade structure is being revisited because of timing. He explained Los Alamos County Council approved funds for replacing the rink’s chiller and floor and if a shade structure is approved then the new floor’s design will need to take it into account.
Investing in the ice rink serves a myriad of users – whether it is ice skaters in the winter months or the local roller derby and other activities during the summer.
The issues these groups face are the exposed ice melts during the winter months and in the summer months, the concrete slab is susceptible to the heat and rain. Both pose safety risks to skaters, Jimenez said.
Having a shade structure, in addition to the new chiller and floor, would improve efficiency, Recreation Superintendent Katherine Hudspeth said.
“(There’s an) increase quality of ice and how long we can keep the ice at that quality,” she said.
While she said these improvements won’t extend the skating season, they “will increase the quality of ice for an entire skating season.”
Plus, Hudspeth noted that the concrete slab has had patchwork done so it is not really a smooth surface to roller skate on during the summer months.
The replacement chiller, which is anticipated to cost about $2.3 million, is expected to be installed this year, Jimenez said. As for the floor project, he said a request for proposals will be advertised in the summer and the plan is to initiate design this year with construction occurring in 2026. The estimated cost for the new floor is $1.6 million.
Due to the project requiring that the existing floor be demolished, new cement to be poured and other work, Jimenez said it makes the most sense to do this project during the summer months. The flooring project is expected to take several months and the new chiller installation is expected to take a few months as well. Jimenez said electrical and plumbing work will also need to be done for the chiller.
He emphasized the County is trying to not interfere with the rink’s activities.
“We’re always trying to minimize the disruption to the activities,” he said. “We are mindful of it.”
The shade structure, new flooring and chiller are just a few of the recent improvements at the ice rink. Hudspeth noted in 2019-2020, the ice rink’s warming hut was enlarged, and the locker rooms were integrated into one building. The restrooms were also connected to the warming hut. Additionally, she said new rubberized flooring was installed for skaters to walk on. In 2022, the rink’s internet was upgraded to fiber and the back parking lot is being leveled and more parking spaces added.
The improvements have not gone unnoticed, Hudspeth said.
“I would say the facility is more appreciated by users since the locker rooms have been integrated into one building,” she said.
Plus, the improvements contribute to overall longevity of the facility, Hudspeth said.
“I think with the improvements we’ve done these last few years … we can provide (a facility) for many years to come,” she said.
While many users – particularly from the hockey and roller derby organizations – have expressed support for a shade structure, Jimenez said the survey does attempt to gage any potential concern that a shade structure would spoil the open-air ice rink.
Hudspeth added that preserving an open-air ice rink is being kept in mind when design options become available but noted it isn’t known what that would entail.