Cortlandt Seeks Partner to Build Indoor Ice Rink
An indoor ice skating rink is an attraction that Cortlandt Supervisor Linda Puglisi has been interested in pursuing for the town for many years, but finding a suitable location has been difficult.
However, town officials feel they may have identified a possible spot and would like to partner with a corporation or individual to operate the ice rink, along with a roller hockey rink, track, batting cages and other entertainment options.
“It’s a brand new idea,” Puglisi said. “Families would have yet another recreation in the area.”
The Cortlandt Town Board last week authorized town staff to seek requests for proposals for the entertainment center at the site of an existing roller rink in Crugers next to the town’s Youth Center and research public/private partnerships, which are becoming more common.
Developer Val Santucci had proposed an ice rink less than a mile away about 10 years ago off Route 9A but traffic concerns and other reservations by some town officials and residents doomed the project. Santucci could not be reached for comment.
“The idea was great. The location was not,” said John Palmiotto, Cortlandt’s recreation director. “The town is looking to see if anyone is interested now.”
When Cortlandt built the outdoor rink near the Cortlandt Train Station, roller hockey was popular, with as many as 14 teams competing in a town-run recreation league. That league no longer exists. Instead, ice hockey has drawn increased interest, with Hendrick Hudson High School even having its own squad.
While the ice rink is, best case scenario, several years away, Cortlandt is hoping to construct an Olympic-size outdoor volleyball court on town property in the near future either in Verplanck or at Sprout Brook Park.
“I always thought it might be interesting to explore having an outdoor volleyball court,” Puglisi said. “We have to start planning for these ideas that we have.”
Palmiotto said he envisions having the court available for casual public use and then forming a league.
“I think the interest would certainly spike,” he remarked.
Meanwhile, the town board last week also authorized awarding a contract for the installation of two dugouts and a scoreboard for the field at Town Hall.
“We are very excited to be assisting our Little League and girls softball,” Puglisi said.
Rick has more than 40 years’ experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, running the gamut from politics and crime to sports and human interest. He has been an editor at Examiner Media since 2012. Read more from Rick’s editor-author bio here. Read Rick’s work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/pezzullo_rick-writer/