Posted by Stacey, a resident of the Amberwood/Wood Meadows neighborhood, on Jul 18, 2007 at 12:15 pm

Great news! As someone who grew up in Pleasanton and experienced first hand how boring it can be, it is great to see Pleasanton getting in on some action finally. I never understood why Dublin and Livermore seemed to have all the fun places (bowling lanes, movie theaters, ice rinks, etc.) and not Pleasanton. It was rather sad when Pleasanton lost its movie theater when Hacienda Crossings was built. Parks are great if you are a parent or a younger child, but older kids need their places too.

Posted by Ron, a member of the Mohr Elementary School community, on Jul 22, 2007 at 12:05 am

Although I agree ice skating is as vital a sport in any community, worthy of existence besides all youth sports, I am opposed to any ice facility on an open-space city park.

Every city park should strive to preserve visually boundless areas. Facilities for youth sports such as baseball, soccer, lacrosse, football, softball, jogging, swimming, etc. all do not require solid walls, roofed buildings, and heavy industrial electrical equipment. Ice arenas require all of this...none of which belongs in a city park. This type of venue should be erected within the confines of a light industrial zone, where buildings, equipment noise and large electrical and ice making equipment are acceptable. If the city wants to participate in a partnership with private enterprise to create and maintain ice facilities, great - but don't place this kind of structure in what is supposed to be an open-space recreational area.

In addition to the interruption a building complex would have on a park, have you considered that ice arenas require water to be frozen by artificial means, which requires heavy electrical cooling equipment? This equipment must run 24/7, 365 days a year and will consume far more energy than, say, a solar powered baseball score board. Heavy ice making equipment not only consumes vast amounts of energy, but also generates vast amounts of heat and emissions - global warming contributions!

Please do not allow the ice complex to go forward on city park land. Please do create and maintain any facility that preserves open space. Please do create and maintain any facility where the only energy required is renewable. Please create and maintain any facility where the only heat generated is from active kids and adults enjoying sports and other activities in a beautiful outdoor space!

Posted by Fred, a resident of San Ramon, on Aug 1, 2007 at 11:30 pm

A park with this kind of ammenities allows kids the opportunity to enjoy one of the best sports (Ice hockey). While there are some negatives in terms of impact to the environment there are also positives.

Our community has one rink with two sheets of Ice and the kids really enjoy it. Young adults have a place to go to socialize and enjoy themselves. We had our first player in Northern California drafted to the National Hockey League and that is something to be proud of for sure. The commentor above stating to put an ice complex in a industrial location that is completely off base.

For someone who grew up in Michigan the rinks back there are mostly in City facilities that are nice parks. If anything kids can see snow in the back of the rink. The equipment to cool the arena is not loud just take a look at logitech arena. I for one look forward to seeing your community have sheets of ice. The rinks in Northern California are old and some of them are closing. Berkley for example was an old rink that needed to be closed and Oakland is pretty old in its own right. So I personally believe it will benfit the community and the surrounding areas. Also could not choose and option for being from Sacramento but that is where I am livng for the past 10 yrs and I frequent the bay for my kids hockey and mine.

Posted by Stacey, a resident of the Amberwood/Wood Meadows neighborhood, on Aug 3, 2007 at 10:14 pm

Apparently we should also tear out the aquatic center and move it to a light industrial area. Such facilities have no business being on city park land.

Posted by Stacey, a resident of the Amberwood/Wood Meadows neighborhood, on Aug 3, 2007 at 10:18 pm

Do you have any idea how much energy it takes to maintain four large sized pools? Those pool filters have to be run 365 days a year!

Posted by C. Winston Adams, a resident of another community, on Mar 20, 2008 at 12:24 am

I think this is a wonderful idea and I wish that I could see this take place in the Pleasant Hill community.

Posted by Joe, a resident of the Pheasant Ridge neighborhood, on Aug 5, 2009 at 5:16 pm

I hope it happens in my lifetime.