A long-sought goal for Norwood’s skating community moved closer to reality in July 1972 as plans for a privately-owned indoor ice rink were confirmed for the Access Road site near the Norwood Airport.
Following the rejection of a previous municipal bid to have a rink built under the state Department of Natural Resources, the town’s skating committee found new hope in a proposal from Milton developer Robert K. Bold. The appeals board had granted Bold a special permit in February to construct a $650,000 facility in a designated manufacturing zone across from the airport.
The proposed steel structure, measuring 240 feet by 100 feet, was designed to house a comprehensive suite of ice sports facilities, including four locker rooms, a pro shop, and skate sharpening services. With spectator seating for 350 people, the rink was slated to operate seven days a week, ten months out of the year, with hours extending from 9 a.m. to 3 a.m. to accommodate high demand. Mr. Bold emphasized that while the facility would primarily serve youth hockey teams and offer public skating time, it was not designed to accommodate high school games, focusing instead on practice time and public figure skating.
Despite initial delays in securing state Department of Public Health approval and navigating financial hurdles—challenges noted by former associate Thomas Egan—Mr. Bold remained confident in the project’s viability. He announced plans to apply for a building permit the following month, with construction expected to begin shortly thereafter. Looking ahead, Mr. Bold predicted that the community would be skating on the new ice by November 1972, providing a significant boost for local youth hockey and ice skating enthusiasts who had been eager for a dedicated facility within the town limits.
Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger
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Norwood, Walpole Clash Tomorrow-This Day In Norwood History-December 22, 1965
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