Hockey Rinks Turn to Plastic Ice as Planet Warms
The New York Times • • business
Key Points:
- Michael Townsend and his team faced increasing challenges maintaining an outdoor rink at Eugene T. Mahoney State Park due to warmer winters, requiring extensive overtime work.
- The crew frequently flooded the rink and operated a Zamboni overnight to preserve the ice surface.
- In 2024, replacing the 26-year-old rink's compressors and piping was estimated to cost $2 million, a significant expense given the rink's seasonal attendance of around 7,500 skaters.
