INWOOD RECREATION CENTER

Destroyed by fire in August 1991, the Inwood Recreation Center is back on the same site, thanks to a $1.2 million insurance settlement, a bond issue for the remainder of the cost, and a building plan that emphasized economical construction and operation costs.

The new facility utilizes the existing outdoor swimming pool and wading pool and updates the indoor ice skating rink that was originally built in 1961. The building’s radius corners and descending roof levels were selected to represent the shape of the ice sheet, identifying the building type and providing a comfortable scale at the building perimeter.

Entry to the center accommodates access to the pool and ice arena, an arrangement that provides good supervision with minimal staff. The lobby is large enough to accommodate the activity of hockey tournaments, figure skating competitions, and the very popular public skating sessions. Both areas enjoy ready access to a restaurant, which has windows overlooking the rink on one side and an outdoor eating area on the other. Offices are located on the second floor, with the meeting room windows also overlooking the rink.

The ice arena has seating for 1,000 spectators and allows for possible future expansion for an additional ice sheet. In addition to the many areas devoted to the rink, skate rental rooms, team locker rooms and so on.  The recreation center includes a fitness studio and day-care room.

A variety of color was introduced throughout the building, on the bleachers and acoustical panels, to reflect the recreational use of the space.

Inwood Recreation Center is bounded by a golf course, a multipurpose building and a large parking lot shared by the municipal stadium.

The 65,000 square foot building was completed in 1993 at a cost of $4.7 million.