Roller Hockey Rink Plans at Park OKd

A private company will build a $250,000 roller hockey rink at Del Obispo Community Park under a contract that won City Council approval this week.

Walnut-based Power Play Inc. has run a city-sponsored hockey program on a converted tennis court at the park for two years. The pact allows Power Play to build a new facility on a portion of the park’s parking lot, about 400 feet from the nearest home.

The new rink will be covered and will feature a regulation-size court, bleachers, lights and acoustic walls. The 45 parking spaces eliminated by the bigger rink will be replaced by 30 street parking spots, officials said.

The council’s decision brought cheers from roller hockey players, parents and coaches who came to the meeting in support of the new facility.

“I think it should be built because it gives a lot of kids something to do,” said Karl Hodel, 10, of Dana Point. “Most of them just sit around and watch TV or something.”

Some residents tried to block the project, saying they feared that it would create noise, traffic and parking problems. With more than 500 children enrolled in the program, they said, the new facility will not be big enough.

“The losers are the youth in our cities who need additional facilities and aren’t going to get them,” resident Richard Dietmeier told the council. “It is another example, in my opinion, of inadequate planning.”

To allay some of the residents’ concerns, the council shortened the length of its contract with Power Play to a four-year term with three one-year extensions.

Council members said the city will also study ways to create more parking spaces.