Spectacular $25 Million Ice Rink Park Planned for Kensico Dam Plaza | WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER 3,374,995 VISITS IN ONE YEAR---65,000 VISITS A WEEK BY 985,281 VISITORS

The layout of the proposed ice rink development at the Kensico Dam reflecting pool consists of a professional game rink surrounded by separate recreational areas at each end.

Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, with hockey players from Stepinac High School (above photo) flanking a painting of

the Kensico Dam Plaza reflecting pool water feature as it looked decades ago, held a news conference Tuesday afternoon at the dam.

He announced a plan to build a professional ice rink and a double-ended recreational rink at the plaza.

The rinks would cover about 50,000 square feet of the below grade pool area. The cost could reach $25 million, which would include $4 million already allocated for repairs of the reflecting pool.

Additional money already allocated to the parks department would be used, along with money from a $300 million capital spending plan Astorino hopes the legislature will approve.

The project would be undertaken with the cooperation of the New York Rangers professional ice hockey team. Players Michael Grabner and Nick Holden were on hand at the news conference, along with former Ranger Adam Graves (left) who already is involved with a program which has offered clinics and ice skating lessons through the county’s Winter Wonderland program at the dam plaza.

In addition to the rink installation, the reflecting pool’s nine historic fountains, capable of shooting water 30 feet in the air, are being fully restored. The proposed hockey rink is regulation size (200 feet by 85 feet) and the ice track on the perimeter is 30-feet wide, accommodating two lanes. Approximately half of the 720-foot by 135-foot reflecting pool would be covered with ice.

The idea for the ice rink grew out of plans by Astorino, already approved by the Board of Legislators, to refurbish the reflecting pool at the foot of the dam, including the deteriorating fountains, which have been shut for 10 years.

As those plans were being designed, it became clear that if ever there was going to be a refrigerated rink at Kensico, the time to build it was now because the piping for the ice and the fountains should be built together.

“Operationally, financially, environmentally and practically, it makes sense to tie the skating rink and the reflecting pool fountains into the same project,” said Astorino.

On Friday, Astorino will unveil a proposed capital budget for 2017 of more than $300 million, which comes at a time when Westchester can take advantage of historically low interest rates and the best credit rating of any county in the state. About one third of the total, roughly $110 million, is dedicated for parks improvements.

“The Westchester County park system is one of the county’s best assets,” said Parks Commissioner Kathleen O’Connor. “Every dollar invested in our parks produces dividends year after year.”

The reflecting pool and rink initiative are part of ongoing improvements at Kensico. About $11 million is needed in 2017 to complete the project: $2.5 million to finish the work on the reflecting pool, $4.2 million for the ice rink and $4 million for a maintenance facility.

The economic impact of $300 million translates roughly into 3,000 jobs.