MISSION VIEJO : City Tentatively Drops Plan for Rink at Park

The City Council this week tentatively scrapped plans for a 100,000-square-foot roller hockey rink in a community park.

After listening to vehement protests from some of the 200 neighborhood residents who attended Monday’s meeting, the council agreed to look for alternative locations to the proposed site at Applegate Park. But the undeveloped 10-acre park, which a city-appointed task force recommended, will remain on the list of possible sites.

However, three of the five council members made it clear that they wouldn’t support preliminary plans submitted by the Breakaway Skate Center of Newport Beach for a three-rink building at Olympiad Road near Alicia Parkway.

“What’s coming at us is something tremendously larger than I ever conceptualized,” Councilman William S. Craycraft said. “This facility is far too large for a neighborhood park.”

Mayor Joseph D. Lowe and City Manager Dan Joseph will supervise the search for a new roller hockey site.

Both roller hockey enthusiasts and people living near the park filled Council Chambers on Monday.

Tim May said he and his neighbors have been accused of being NIMBYs (Not In My Back Yard) by rink supporters.

“Applegate Park is not in our back yard,” he said. “Applegate is our front yard. . . . I was completely overwhelmed by a roller hockey facility of 100,000 square feet.”

Both roller hockey players and their parents urged the council to support the rink at Applegate Park.

“After kids reach the age of 14 to 15, there’s no place for them to skate in this community,” said Celia Shanahan, an assistant coach for a local roller hockey team. “If there is no place for them to skate, they’ll wind up skating on the street.”