Photo Credit: © Can Stock Photo / Lopolo
When an outdoor in-line hockey rink becomes part of a parks and rec department’s facility inventory, there are a host of maintenance issues it will need to know; some are obvious, some not so much. If the rink is covered but open-sided, more unexpected requirements will surface.
In some cases, the rink is placed on new ground, and in other cases it is put on ground previously used for other purposes, such as old tennis courts. Either way, proper preparation of the sub-surface and using a type of surfacing that will not crack or buckle is paramount.
It All Happened So Fast
The city of Weymouth, Mass., began discussing conversion of three unused tennis courts to an in-line and street-hockey rink in early 2014. The proposed conversion of the courts—deemed worn-down and unsafe for use—was estimated at $62,000. The project entailed refinishing the playing surface, installing heavy-duty plastic boards, creating dugout player benches, and installing two goals.