Roller Hockey Still on Hold, Along With Site

Unlike last year, the end of December does not signal the beginning of Studio City’s roller hockey leagues.

Instead, leagues remain in limbo as city officials search to find a suitable location to build a roller hockey rink in the Valley.

Since September, when Councilman Mike Feuer killed a plan to build a roller hockey rink at the Studio City Recreation Center, officials from the city’s Department of Recreation and Parks have narrowed their search to three locations: the North Hollywood Recreation Center, the Van Nuys-Sherman Oaks Recreation Center and a field the city leases adjacent to Victory Boulevard in the Sepulveda Basin.

The locations have been submitted to Feuer’s office for approval.

“The sites were chosen because we think [a rink there] will not impact the neighborhood [negatively],” said Virginia Hatley, landscape architect and project manager for the city.

Once a site is chosen, Hatley said the city will conduct an environmental impact study and consult residents and local legislators on the matter.

But the city is in no hurry to close this issue. Hatley said the city has as long as five years to use the $135,000 appropriated for the project through a grant and Proposition K funds.

“We’re going to make sure we do everything right this time,” Hatley said.

The caution comes with good reason.

After months of bickering between park neighbors and rink proponents, Feuer stepped in to quash the project, citing concern of overdevelopment in Studio City. The plan had called for the first roller hockey rink in a Los Angeles park. The facility would also have been adaptable to other sports.

“It really is a considerable disappointment the league is not functioning this year,” said Evan Kaizer, the parent of a hockey player. “The kids lost.”

Previous seasons, leagues had been allowed to play in a parking lot at the Studio City park. That ended last year.