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Dek hockey rink work under way in New Kensington
Eric Felack | Tribune-Review
Construction equipment prepares the surface of the old tennis courts at Memorial Park in New Kensington for a new dek hockey rink and two new tennis courts on Wednesday, April 20, 2016.
New Kensington youths should be playing dek hockey in Memorial Park about the same time professional ice hockey players are vying for the Stanley Cup this June.
Milling work began this week at the site of the new dek hockey rink, which will replace three of the five tennis courts.
The project will include drainage and asphalt work, a specially designed dek hockey surface, resurfacing the two remaining tennis courts, fencing and other upgrades, according to Mayor Tom Guzzo. He noted poor drainage that caused problems with the former tennis court surface will be remedied.
Guzzo said the idea for dek hockey stemmed from the popularity of a program that began at Valley Family Points YMCA several years ago and the dek hockey rinks springing up across Western Pennsylvania.
“It has really taken off,” Guzzo said. “Kids have been asking me, ‘When's the dek hockey coming?' ”
Once the site work is finished, Guzzo said it should only take a few days for contractors to install the actual dek surface, which is a perforated plastic that allows water to drain.
He expects the rink will be ready to use by the time the park formally opens for summer on Memorial Day weekend.
The project was delayed since it first was announced in fall 2014 when an initial round of grants came in significantly over budget.
The work was re-bid last year and contracts totalling just over $300,000 were awarded to T.C. Services and McElroy Paving.
The work largely is funded by $250,000 in state grant money plus other grants.
Guzzo said the city plans to partner with the YMCA and the Trib Total Media Pittsburgh Ice Arena in New Kensington to organize and schedule leagues.
Guzzo said there will be open times for people who don't play in leagues to use the rink, similar to the park's ball fields being open to people whenever teams aren't scheduled to use them.
The dek hockey rink is just the latest upgrade at Memorial Park. Two of the main pavilions were rebuilt earlier this spring, and other recent work has included renovating the amphitheater, new bathrooms, a new entrance bridge and improved ball fields.
“It's another dimension to our award-winning park,” Guzzo said.
Liz Hayes is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach her at 724-226-4680 or lhayes@tribweb.com.
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