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Centenial Rink Expansion

Doing the same thing twice may not be the best use of Park District dollars. Right now, the Greenprint (Park District’s long-range plan) calls for renovating the lobby and gymnastics area this year, but also calls for another project several years down the road, to enlarge the rink space. Enlarging the rink would likely require further modifications to the lobby. Why renovate the lobby twice in five years?

In my conversations with people at Centenial, I find they aren’t complaining about the lobby. They’re complaining about their children skating at 6 AM because ice-time is too hard to come by. The Falcon Ice Hockey group, one of Centennial’s oldest tenants, is willing to raise $2,000,000 towards expanding the rink now, but since the Board isn’t forecasting that change for several years the Falcons have started to look elsewhere.

In my conversations with people at Centenial, I find they aren’t complaining about the lobby. They’re complaining about their children skating at 6 AM because ice-time is too hard to come by. The Falcon Ice Hockey group, one of Centennial’s oldest tenants, is willing to raise $2,000,000 towards expanding the rink now, but since the Board isn’t forecasting that change for several years the Falcons have started to look elsewhere.

Centennial turns a positive cash flow. I’m concerned about the non-revenue generating lobby project, foregoing the Falcon money which would provide 25 to 30% of expansion expense, and lost revenue during a project with a shelf life of only a few years.

Once elected, I will explore the rationale for these decisions with the Staff, and encourage alternative plan development. Unless otherwise convinced, I would hope to work with the Falcons, take advantage of their offer, advance the ice expansion, and avoid the redundant lobby renovations.