Puck drops for youth hockey facility upgrades

County approves outdoor ice rink change permit near Carbondale for Colorado Extreme

PRESS RELEASE
October 19, 2023

Garfield County has approved an application for a substantial modification to a limited impact land use change clearing the way for upgrades to an existing temporary outdoor youth hockey rink east of Carbondale. Colorado Extreme applied for the permit to update the site plan with improvements, including an additional smaller skills rink, summer fitness/clinic programming, and paving the entrance off County Road 100.

The proposal also includes acceleration and deceleration lanes off the county road and 30 additional parking spaces, for a total of 71. The modifications increase the size of the operating parcel from roughly 1.7 acres to 2.43 acres. The facility was first approved for seasonal use in fall of 2022 and operated throughout the winter last season.

The access improvements are slated to commence as soon as possible, Colorado Extreme representatives told the Board of County Commissioners. This includes changes to the Rio Grande Trail across the driveway, such as the addition of a pedestrian crossing table.

“We’re going to have a raised crossing for the trail and, along with signage, we’ll also have striping in that area to try and provide as much safety in the crossing as possible,” said Simon Bentley, of Colorado Extreme. “That’s the extent of the improvements we’re doing right now. It’s the acceleration and deceleration lanes, a widened driveway, and a realigned Rio Grande Trail.”

County staff recommended approval with conditions, including limiting the facility to 125 participants per day during hockey season, and 40 per day during summer; improving lighting shielding to reduce visibility; and requiring lights to be turned off by 9 p.m., among others.

The board approved the permit unanimously, 2-0, with Commissioner Mike Samson not in attendance.