Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Community Recreation Center Project?

This recreation destination will deliver local residents and visitors with multi-purpose, year-round, high-quality recreation opportunities, that will encourage social and multi-generational interaction, all leading to healthy and active lifestyles for all ages. The Community Recreation Center (CRC) or Multi-use Facility will be a fabric tensile structure (commonly called Sprung), enclosing an Olympic-size ice rink that will operate in winter and a RecZone in summer.  

What activities will I be able to do in summer at the Community Recreation Center? 

In the summer months, the facility will be the hub for the expanding Parks and Recreation Department summer camps and programs. Operating as the RecZone, a venue designed to be fully programmable and truly multi-use, the 20,000 sq. ft. area provides ample space for a multitude of court sports, along with the ability to host over 2,000 people at community events. With durable, sports tiles offering excellent traction, ball response and shock absorption, the RecZone will be fully programmed all summer for drop-in, league play, and tournaments. Recreation activities include sports such as basketball, arena soccer, futsal, pickleball, badminton, volleyball, dodgeball, and our expanding Mammoth Aces junior tennis program. The facility will also accommodate adaptive sports such as wheelchair basketball, pickleball, tennis and roller hockey. In addition, the Community Recreation Center will provide affordable, supervised activities for older children who currently lack these options, such as middle school-aged kids, through summer and drop-in programming.

What activities will I be able to do in winter at the Community Recreation Center? 

The ice rink will operate during the winter months from approximately November to April. The Olympic-size ice rink (100’x200’) will be fully enclosed, with an option to experience the stunning views of the Sherwin’s with glass roll-up doors, allowing for a reliable and enjoyable skating experience. Daily drop-in or frequently programmed activities at the ice rink include public skating, youth (cross-ice) hockey and adult hockey, figure skating and curling. The ice rink will be programmed weekly for curling leagues and learn to skate or play hockey sessions, with special monthly programs such as free skate nights, local and regional hockey/curling tournaments, birthday parties and professionally hosted hockey development camps. 

What are the benefits of a Sprung Structure versus a metal roof?

For four generations, Sprung has designed world-class fabric membrane building solutions that consistently outperform other building alternatives. Sprung structures are engineered to lower overall project costs, reduce operating and energy expenses while minimizing ongoing maintenance costs. In addition, Sprung uses recycled content wherever possible, engage in responsible construction waste management practices, and the robust tension system is built to endure extreme conditions, such as a Mammoth Lakes winter! 

Isn’t a Sprung Structure a temporary facility? 

The life expectancy of a Sprung structure is designed to last for 65 years, which should be considered permanent for this type of facility. Built with an up to 25-year guaranteed performance architectural membrane and an up to 50-year guaranteed performance non-corroding aluminum substructure, Sprung structures are known for their exceptional durability and proven long-term performance.

Will the facility include a Community Center?

Pending final design and construction costs, staff is planning a 2,500 square foot second floor or mezzanine to serve as a community room/viewing area. In addition, this space will support the multitude of year-round events, tournaments and activities programmed at the facility. 

How much will it cost to build the Community Recreation Center? 

On June 5, 2019, Town Council directed staff to proceed with design, development and construction of the fabric tensile structure for a not to exceed cost of $13 million.

Why are we building a Sprung Structure and not a metal roof?

A Sprung structure was the only alternative analyzed by Town staff, Vanir Construction and HMC Architects that meets the “all-in” Town Council budget of $13M. 

How is the Town funding the construction of the Community Recreation Center? 

The majority of funding sources for the Community Recreation Center are derived from Measure R and Measure U that are restricted for the purposes of recreation and not available for other Town Strategic Priorities. 

What are Measures R & U?

In 2008 and 2010, the voters of Mammoth Lakes, by a two-thirds majority, voted to support Measure R and Measure U respectively. These special use taxes are dedicated for the specific purpose of enhancing recreation, trails, parks, mobility and arts & culture. Measure R funds can only be used for parks and recreation facilities owned or managed by the Town of Mammoth Lakes, and neither Measure R nor U funds may supplant existing parks and recreation facility maintenance funds. Mammoth Lakes Recreation establishes the priorities for the strategic and effective use of Measure R and U funds and through their funding recommendations to Town Council affirmed that the Community Recreation Center is a priority recreation amenity. 

When did planning for this project begin?

In 2014, staff began the process to investigate alternative designs to cover the existing Mammoth Ice Rink/RecZone. The project became a reality after the adoption of several planning documents, a comprehensive environment review (EIR), and direction from Town Council to relocate the existing and deficient ice rink to Town-owned property. 

Why is it being built at Mammoth Creek Park West and not another site? 

In 2015, Town Council accepted the recommendations from the Recreation Commission, Mammoth Lakes Recreation and members of the Ad Hoc Facility Task Force to commence preliminary design and environmental documentation for the location of community recreation facilities within Mammoth Creek Park West. The committee analyzed Mammoth Creek Park West, the Community Center Park & Tennis Courts, the Civic Center Parcel, the Bell Shaped Parcel, Trails End Park/Volcom Brothers Skate Park, and Whitmore Recreation Area. Shady Rest Park and Mammoth Creek Park East were not considered because the terms of the leases of those parks with the U.S. Forest Service prohibit the construction of permanent structures on the sites. 

Was the community engaged in the planning of the facility? 

Beginning in February 2016, the Recreation Commission formed a Programming Committee comprised of various community stakeholders to assist in the development of programming for the facility. The committee hosted a series of eight facilitated public “Plan Your Park” workshops from February 22 through April 12, 2016 attended by over 170 people. Workshops were also conducted with the ice hockey community and the Town/County Youth Advisory Committee, and a survey in both English and Spanish was received from 33 residents. All of these efforts served to inform the design of the facility. Input from the programming workshops was compiled in a series of “Playbooks” detailing uses for the ice rink and summer RecZone. 

How popular is the current Mammoth Ice Rink?

The Mammoth Ice Rink is the most visited fee-based facility operated by the Town of Mammoth Lakes. During the 2018/19 season, over 9,300 people visited the Mammoth ice Rink. The rink was open for 61 days with an average of 154 visits per day.