The all new Hamill Rink!

Project Overview

The Dorothy Hamill Skating Rink is a public facility operated by the Department of Parks & Recreation and is located within Eugene Morlot Memorial Park in the Byram section of Greenwich. It was constructed in stages over several decades, beginning as an outdoor rink in November of 1971. The original rink included an accompanying warming hut building that housed both the electrical and refrigeration equipment to make ice.

Over the past several years, several studies and groups have been engaged in shaping the current plan to replace the antiquated skating facility and surrounding park assets with modern enhancements. This plan has been refined based on the significant community input that was provided in a variety of forums to best address the public comments received. Enhancements include:

Modern skating facility that includes:
- Standard sized ice surface
- Sufficient number of locker rooms to support co-ed sports
- Infrastructure to support a solar array
- Accessibility improvements
- Sufficient restroom counts, including exterior access restrooms for park users
- Event space with adjoining snack bar
Baseball field with 300’ foul lines to accommodate a 90’ for high school level baseball. (aligns with Parks and Recreation Field Masterplan).
Removal of impervious area within and around the Byram Veteran’s Memorial Tree Grove.
Enhanced playground area that adjoins newly centralized green space
Redeveloped parking area with zoning compliant spaces and EV chargers
Improved site circulation with an additional access drive to Western Junior Highway and additional sidewalk connections

The general construction sequence includes building a new skating facility current baseball outfield while the existing facility remains operational to support Parks and Recreation operations as well as school programs. When the new facility is operational, the existing rink will be demolished and replaced with a new parking lot. The existing parking lot will then be removed and replaced with the new baseball field.

Project Timeline

2017 – Dorothy Hamill Skating Rink Reconstruction Committee organized by Parks and Recreation
2019 – KG&D Rink Evaluation completed
2021 – Rink User Committee for Design and Planning created
Fall 2024 – Received Planning and Zoning approval for Municipal Improvement
January 2025 – MI denied by RTM
March 2025 – Hamill Rink Task Force established
2025/26 – Hamill Rink Task Force met weekly to evaluate siting options (31 public meetings, 2 public hearings)
January 2026 – Hamill Rink Task Force Final Report Completed
February 2026 – Board of Selectmen approve Municipal Improvement (vote 3-0)
March 2026 – Planning and Zoning approve Municipal Improvement (vote 5-0)
March 2026 – BET approve $41.2M funding for Rink with conditions (vote 12-0)
May 2026 – RTM Meeting to approve Budget which includes Rink Funding
June 2026 – RTM to review Municipal Improvement
July 2026 – DPW to Start Final Architectural and Engineering Design (assumes funding and Municipal Improvement approval have been received)
October 2026 – Planning and Zoning to review Final Site Plan
December 2026 – Completion of Final Architectural and Engineering Design
January 2027 – Post for Bid Hamill Rink and Morlot Park Improvements
March 2027 – Sign contract for Hamill Rink and Morlot Park Improvements
March 2027 – Start Construction