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Community Corner

Central Regional weighing big sports expansion with ice rink

BERKELEY TOWNSHIP - Central Regional's school board is considering an expansion of its sports facilities including an ice rink and enhancing the football complex with a turf field and expanded track, school officials said on Thursday night.

While there is interest in this expansion, it would only happen “if the price is right” for the district’s taxpayers, said Superintendent Triantafillos Parlapanides said after the Board of Education meeting.

The Board of Education approved obtaining requests for qualifications from professionals – engineers, attorneys and consultants – to develop bid specifications to undertake the expansion of the school's sports facilities, Parlapanides said.  The proposed hockey rink would be near the east gate in front of the school.

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The track would be expanded to eight lanes from six and a turf field would be constructed in addition to the rink.

"We're trying to get revenue sources without directly burdening the taxpayer," said Robert Everett, who is one of Berkeley's representatives to the Board of Education.

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The proposed ice rink would incorporate private funds the help get it built, said Debra Matthews, who also represents Berkeley on the school board.

Three potential investors are interested in the design, construction and financing of the ice rink, Parlapanides said.

An ice rink would be the only one between Toms River and Atlantic City, Seaside Heights representative Michael Graichen said.  The facility could complement Toms River’s to attract hockey tournaments, since ice time is very scarce for many clubs and sports teams, he said.

Parlapanides said time may be of the essence if the school is planning to do work on the track, since that could affect spring track meets as well as graduation.

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