45°
NORWALK, Conn. Megan Kilroy made her way into the Sono Ice House on Friday, first finding herself in what had been a cavernous movie studio and then getting a peek at the newly built ice rinks.
"Oh, it's not ready," the Norwalk mom said to her 6- and 4-year-old sons as she spied a lattice work of 2-by-4s for a platform at the rear of the NHL-size hockey rink, the concrete floors, open pipework and no people in sight.
Ryan Hughes, managing partner of the ice skating and hockey facility, says it is ready at least the part he's in charge of: the rink itself. He could fill the rink with ice and begin skating, but the parking lot is not done.
When will it open? "That's on the landlord," Hughes said. "Everything inside the rink that's under our control is ready to go."
The landlord, 300 Wilson Ave., did not return a phone call requesting comment.
The pipes are all set, Hughes said. The rubber matting hasn't been put down over the concrete floors because construction people are still going in and out. But where there had been 40 people at work, now there are three or four. And while the large space overlooking the rink doesn't yet look like a café, Hughes is focused on skating. He said he could have made ice two weeks ago.
To comply with the law so he can open, Hughes will ask the landlord to pave the 25 feet in front of the facility and make handicapped parking spaces. He doesn't know whether that's possible, though.
There is a paved parking lot on the other side of the building.
"I think we'll start making ice early next week," he said. "Hopefully in a week or two, the parking lot is to where it needs to be, at least to get the handicapped spots out there."
Norwalk Fire Marshal Glenn Iannacone toured the rink Friday for an inspection, which inspired him to remember the Crystal Rink from when he was a kid. "It's going to be an amazing facility," he said, looking around. "Long overdue in Norwalk."
Correction made, 12:10 p.m.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Norwalk and receive free news updates.
