Informational Meeting 7 p.m., April 30

At their annual spring meetings on campus April 24–25, the Phillips Academy Board of Trustees authorized the school’s administration to begin design work and preliminary fund raising necessary to add a second ice sheet to the school’s hockey facility.

Phillips Academy will host an informational meeting about the project at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 30, at the Ted Harrison Rink off Main Street. The meeting is open to the public and the press.

"Constructing a second ice sheet will be mutually beneficial for the school and for the surrounding community," said Head of School Barbara Chase. "A second ice sheet will increase the amount of ice time available to local residents, and the revenues generated by renting surplus ice time to the community will enable the academy to operate the facility in a self-sustaining manner," she said.

In beginning design work, the school is proceeding with the second phase of the two-ice-sheet plan approved by the town in fall 2000. "The shape, size and site design of this project is already set by the original permit," said Michael Williams, director of facilities at Phillips Academy. "The eventual construction of the second ice sheet will be far less disruptive than construction of the Harrison Rink, because the site is already completed," he said.

As required by the permits, the school has executed studies since the opening of the Harrison Rink to test traffic estimates. These studies have found associated traffic to be at or below anticipated levels. Results of noise and light tests also conform to planning requirements. Additionally, Phillips Academy has submitted a landscape architecture summary, which shows that the school did more planting than was required.

The Ted Harrison Rink cost more than $8 million to design and build and was opened in February 2002. The estimated cost of constructing the second ice sheet is $4 to $5 million. The construction schedule for the second ice rink will depend on the pace of fund raising. Upon opening a second rink, Phillips Academy will close the 53-year-old, open-air Sumner Smith Rink.

Residents from Andover and surrounding communities have made great use of the Harrison Rink since it opened in February 2002. The rink has more than 500 participants registered for the Phillips Academy Skating School in categories including basic skills, tot lessons, dance and adult skate-to-fitness classes. Another 1,000 members have joined the Phillips Academy Skating Club, including members of the school’s faculty and staff and 700 residents from Andover and surrounding towns.

About 600 youngsters from 5 to 17 years old skate at the rink as part of the Andover Youth Hockey Program as well as a number of adults involved in club hockey groups. Andover High School also rents ice time at the Harrison Rink for the school’s hockey teams.