The Palm Beach Gardens City Council recently approved plans for a $40 million ice rink complex at Plant Drive Park, one of the city’s oldest parks. The 123,000-square-foot facility will include two full-sized ice rinks, a restaurant, and a pro shop, located between Palm Beach Gardens High School and Interstate 95. This new addition is part of a broader effort to revitalize the park, which has been in existence for 60 years.

The Palm Beach North Athletic Foundation, which is overseeing the development, has secured $12 million of the $40 million needed for the project and is working to finalize the rest of the funding. Construction is expected to take 16 to 18 months once financing is in place. Despite concerns about increased traffic, the project’s design includes measures to mitigate congestion, such as expanded sidewalks and additional turning lanes to improve traffic flow. The complex is expected to add around 1,800 daily trips, which is within the area’s road capacity.

The project faced opposition from local residents who raised concerns about its location and the impact on the surrounding neighborhood. Many expressed disappointments over the park’s demolition, which will result in the removal of the city’s only skate park, along with basketball and pickleball courts and a softball field. Some residents feared the new complex would cater mainly to affluent families, leaving lower-income residents with fewer recreational options. However, others welcomed the project, citing the growing demand for ice sports in the region, especially given the migration from northern states.

Once completed, the facility will serve as a hub for various ice sports, including figure skating, hockey, and curling, catering to individuals of all ages, with a focus on youth. The city anticipates attracting visitors from across the region, with some notable figures, such as NHL legend Wayne Gretzky, planning to use the rinks for events like the Gretzky Hockey School.

The new complex will be open daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Palm Beach Gardens residents will receive a discount on rink usage. The two-story building will have a beach-inspired design with plenty of glass and colorful accents, while retaining green space around the site. The city views the development as a way to reinvigorate an underutilized area and provide new recreational opportunities for the broader community.

Stay tuned for more updates on this development and other happenings in the City. Contact me with any questions you may have!