Quinn's Recreation Complex
Art: Courtesy of Elliott - Mahoney Architecture
It has literally been years in the making, but come February of 2006, Park City will finally have an ice sheet capable of accommodating a complete array of ice skating activities. “The Quinn’s Recreation Complex has developed from plans for having just an ice rink, into a $10.5-million, world-class sports complex,” said Colin Hilton, director of economic development for Park City. “Voters approved a bond initiative in 2001 to fund the complex, but we’ve spent a good number of years trying to find an appropriate site. Now we’ve finally found a home.”
“Home” for the Quinn’s Recreation Complex means being nestled in the foothills of Park City near the National Ability Center, at the junction of State Highway 40 and State Route 248. The complex will house an Olympic-size ice sheet inside a 46,000-square-foot building.
“The ice sheet will be used for both adults and kids—for hockey leagues, figure skating, learn to skate classes and more,” said Stacey Noonan,
general manager of the complex. “We’re looking at curling and speed skating, too—anything that can be done on an Olympic-size sheet of ice.”
Noonan, who spent 17 years in Steamboat, Colorado managing a similar ice sheet and its programs, is excited about opening the complex, which broke ground late in April of 2005. “We’re going to start with a six-to-eight month ice skating season, and depending on how fast the programs develop, our goal is to have the ice sheet open year-round soon,” Noonan said. “From what I hear, when we open this rink, it’s just going to explode. People are really anxious to get on the ice. They’ve been looking for an ice sheet in this town for years, so skaters are ready to go.”
Until year-round ice is a reality, Parkites may see concerts, conven-tions and other activities taking place at the Quinn’s complex. Upcoming construction phases will add three rectangular fields for soccer, rugby and lacrosse, along with a large main field capable of being divided into three softball diamonds. The complex will also serve as a trailhead for mountain biking and hiking into 1,300 acres of nearby open space.
Over the years, Park City has become Utah’s epicenter for winter sports, with multi-million dollar venues remaining after the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, from skiing and snowboarding race arenas to the Utah Olympic Park’s Nordic jumps and sliding sports tracks. By offering an ice sheet to both visitors and locals, the new Quinn’s Recreation Complex will not only help introduce prospective athletes to ice-related sports, but round-out our world-class array of athletic facilities. See you on the ice!
For information on skating at the Quinn’s Recreation Complex, please call 435.615.5000.
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