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Inline Hockey Rink May Soon Be Moved
No Firm Plans Set On Where New Rink Would Locate
By Keith Hagarty
 | | --Photo Courtesy Of Manchester Inline Hockey League Since being built about 10 years ago, hundreds of young people in Manchester have enjoyed incline skating, hockey and other activities at the hockey rink adjacent to town hall. |
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With the future of the inline hockey rink in the municipal complex up in the air, an official from the Manchester Inline Hockey League wants to make sure the children who participate in the league will enjoy a place to play their games in Manchester for years to come.
The rink was built nearly a decade ago in the municipal complex, located adjacent to the police department building for security purposes. However, with possible construction projects discussed for the municipal complex site - the need for additional parking space is high on the list - the kids using the rink for their hockey games may have to find another place to play in the next year or two, according to Tom Armeman, the president of the Manchester Inline Hockey League.
The issue of the rink's future came to light after Armeman was told by the town that the league's request for a multi-year extension of its lease for the rink would not be considered. The town instead recommended extending the league's lease on a month-by-month basis, but would be willing to do a oneyear lease extension.
Armeman, who's run the league since 2000, said he had heard rumors for some time that the rink may not be at its current location for long. Those rumors soon began to become a reality once he and league officials began seeing marked surveyor sticks planted in the ground around the site in early spring, indicating that some form of construction project would be taking place there.
"I was trying to find out what was going on, and there were rumors flying around that they're going to knock down the rink and just put in more parking spaces," he said. "Then I got a letter about two to three weeks ago stating that they wanted the lease to go month to month and that they were going to move us to the recreational area. Then I heard the word was that they were talking about between Pop Warner and Little League (facility) on Route 571, but that land all belongs to Pop Warner ... so I don't know where it stands now."
While he and the league have not been given any specifics about what the town has planned, Armeman knows the rink will not be there for long.
"I know they're talking about moving us (inline rink) and the PAL (Police Athletic League) building so it can really open up that area," said Armeman.
Above all else, Armeman said he just hopes that when the rink eventually disappears a year or two from now that the league is not left high and dry, having nowhere to go.
"What I mentioned to the township administrator is if they're thinking of moving it, then I think in the best interests of everybody they should have an area already cleared and ready with the slab done already before they even think of taking the rink down," he said. "Because this is one of those things that they could take down in a day, but them putting it up, if you're not prepared to just move the entire rink over somewhere else right away, it could take months."
The town will do its best to help the league make any eventual move as smooth and efficient as possible, said Township Business Administrator Connie Lauffer.
"Whatever changes come with this facility, that rink would probably be placed somewhere else in a very similar configuration to what they have now," she said.
Lauffer added that the town has a history of working cooperatively with the league, such as helping them get lighting at the site.
"We were glad to help them out," she said.
With the league playing in the spring and fall using the rink eight months out of the year, Armeman said he is confident their dealings with the town will be productive and just wants to ensure that the their future plans will not put a damper on their league.
"In this town, granted it's a majority of seniors, but you still have to keep the kids occupied," he said.
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