ESCONDIDO — A growing number of concerned residents have come out against the potential construction of an indoor ice rink at Kit Carson Park following the City Council’s approval of a memorandum of understanding with the project’s developer earlier this month.
More than a dozen residents, many wearing “Save Kit Carson Park” pins on their shirts, delivered more than an hour of public testimony during off-agenda comments at the City Council’s June 24 meeting, a few weeks after the council unanimously approved the MOU with The Rinks Foundation on June 3.
The MOU establishes a nonbinding framework for the city and the foundation to work together to evaluate the feasibility of building an ice rink at the south end of the park, where the adult softball fields are currently located.
If the project is ultimately approved, it would require relocating the adult softball complex to another location in the city, potentially Francis Ryan Park. The Rinks Foundation would contribute $4 million toward relocating the softball facilities.
The council’s approval of the MOU does not guarantee the project will move forward.
While many community members spoke in favor of building the ice rink complex in Escondido at the June 3 meeting, news of the proposal has since reached more corners of the city, sparking concerns from residents who are not necessarily opposed to an ice rink but do not want it at Kit Carson Park.
“I have a lot of neighbors who are all in favor of the Rinks’ proposal — it would bring in economic vitality to the city — but not at Kit Carson Park,” said Larry Thornburgh, who lives near the park.
Thornburgh suggested locating the rink on the mall property adjacent to Kit Carson Park to help revitalize business activity there.
Several speakers were adult softball players, including Matt Roberts, who urged the city to preserve the existing softball complex rather than replace it with an ice rink. Roberts noted that a ballfield once located where the current City Council chambers stand was relocated about 50 years ago to Kit Carson Park to make way for the new City Hall.
Now, he said, the city is looking to move the fields again.
“You’re literally standing on a field that has history to it — and now you’re asking it to move again for another sport that costs more for an entry fee,” Roberts said.
Other residents, including Elias Velazquez, who is running for mayor this November and also uses the softball fields, said they support adding an ice rink but oppose the proposed location.
“As someone who uses this area, this corner of the park is not right,” he said.
Several people cited concerns about the loss of green space and the rink’s potential impact on the park’s environment.
Ruth Weber pointed out that the park contains “fragile” streams, rivers and lake habitats that feed into the San Dieguito River watershed.
“It’s important that these natural resources and sensitive lands provide compatible recreational opportunities that do not damage sensitive lands,” she said. “We are counting on you to do the right thing and find a different location.”
Other speakers raised concerns about the ice rink’s potential impact on the park’s trail network.
Resident Stephen Heilman was the only speaker at the June 24 meeting to voice support for the proposal at Kit Carson Park. He said that after researching the project over the past few weeks, he encountered a great deal of misinformation from community members opposed to it.
He said concerns about losing green space and access to hiking trails are unfounded.
“It’s hard to consider green space to be artificially landscaped, watered and fertilized,” he said, referring to the softball fields.
Heilman also noted that many local children interested in ice skating now have to travel hours because Escondido no longer has a rink after the Escondido Ice-Plex closed six years ago.
Several residents also cited potential traffic impacts along Bear Valley Parkway, where the park’s entrances are located.
Bear Valley Parkway is already frequently congested during peak travel times. The park is across the street from San Pasqual High School and adjacent to Bear Valley Middle School and L.R. Green Elementary School, which contribute to existing traffic congestion. Many nearby residents said the proposed rink would worsen conditions along the corridor.
David Grace, another nearby resident, said opponents are considering circulating a petition that would place the proposal before voters.
“If you are confident that what you’re doing is acting on behalf of your constituents, then put it to a vote,” Grace said.
One man, visibly frustrated with the proposal, said the city had “kicked the sleeping giant.”
Abel Martinez suggested that The Rinks Foundation had taken advantage of the city through the MOU.
“This isn’t a deal, this is a one-sided gift to the rink’s favor,” Martinez said. “That’s how the Rinks organization has stayed billionaires — by entering into one-sided contracts with desperate parties.”
Under the MOU, the lease would run for 25 years following construction, with five four-year extension options, allowing for a potential total lease term of 45 years. Ownership of the facility would revert to the city after the lease expires.
The proposed rink would be modeled after Great Park Ice, a $115 million, 280,000-square-foot facility featuring four sheets of ice and a 2,500-seat arena. The Irvine venue is the largest community ice rink in California, attracting more than 1 million participants and visitors annually.
If constructed, the facility would serve as the official training center for the San Diego Gulls, the American Hockey League affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Anaheim Ducks.
The Rinks Foundation also owns Poway ICE.
The City Council generally cannot respond to off-agenda public comments, but is expected to consider a lease later this summer that would provide The Rinks Foundation with additional assurance as it continues pursuing the project.
