City officials told the finance committee on Feb. 11 that they decided not to install and operate an ice surface at Founders Memorial Skating Rink this winter to prioritize broader, year-round community programming and to avoid high short-term utility and staffing costs associated with an on-ice season.

DPW Commissioner Joe Lathan said the administration and Parks and Recreation evaluated how to maximize community use of the small rink and determined other uses would reach more people during the year. “It was determined that...we needed...some in the summertime and some in the fall and before we close it down December 1 and also in the spring, that would be an [ideal] space to really utilize that space for the biggest bang for the buck,” Lathan said.

Commissioner Lathan and Parks & Rec representatives explained that installing an ice surface is labor- and cost-intensive: crews need several weeks to install or remove ice and condensers that keep ice frozen can cost roughly $8,000 a month to run. “It costs us about $8,000 a month in utility costs for those condensers to run continuously,” Lathan said, noting that utilities alone make short ice seasons expensive, and that staffing, custodial services and the work to switch surfaces raise costs further.

Parks & Rec Director Sue Yerkes and DPW staff said they plan to install a removable wooden/soft surface that would support programs such as pickleball and other community activities during warmer months, but that the flooring would need to be removed and stored for any future ice operation. Commissioner Lathan noted uninstalling and reinstalling such flooring would add cost and storage needs.

Committee members emphasized strong public demand for ice time in Somerville and asked whether the city can expand ice access. City officials responded that, while the administration supports exploring options, operating short ice seasons at Founders is not cost-effective without a longer-season commitment and associated funding. The committee marked the item as work completed after the briefing.