Marblehead Approves $3.6M Redevelopment of Reynolds Playground

The new covered ice rink and multi-use sports facility aims to address local youth sports demand.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 7:03pm

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting an abstract youth ice hockey practice session, with sharp geometric planes of blue, green, and orange representing the players, equipment, and ice surface.A new covered rink in Marblehead aims to provide much-needed practice space for local youth sports teams, reducing commute times and expanding access to facilities.Lynn Today

The Marblehead Recreation and Parks Commission voted 4-1 to move forward with a $3.6 million redevelopment of Reynolds Playground, including plans for a new covered, refrigerated ice rink that can be converted into a turf practice surface. The first phase of the project now heads to the Select Board for review, while a second phase involving field reconstruction and potential synthetic turf remains under consideration.

Why it matters

The new facility is intended to provide much-needed practice space for local youth sports organizations, who often have to travel outside Marblehead to neighboring communities to secure ice time and field access. The project aims to address growing demand and reduce commute times for families.

The details

The approved first phase would transform the existing rink into a covered, multi-use sports deck that can be used for ice skating in winter and converted into a turf practice surface during warmer months. The design was scaled back from earlier plans for a full-size hockey rink due to space limitations and cost concerns. While commissioners agreed to move forward with the rink, there was disagreement over the second phase, which includes rebuilding the adjacent field and potentially installing synthetic turf.

  • The Marblehead Recreation and Parks Commission voted on the project on April 12, 2026.
  • If approved, construction could begin following a procurement process, with officials estimating several months to complete the initial phase.

The players

Marblehead Recreation and Parks Commission

The local government body that oversees parks and recreation facilities in Marblehead, Massachusetts.

Shelly Bedrossian

The Vice Chair of the Marblehead Recreation and Parks Commission who outlined the proposal and responded to community concerns.

Larry Simpson

The one dissenting vote on the commission, centered on concerns about including synthetic turf in a later phase of the project.

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What they’re saying

“This is actually the eighth public meeting we've had.”

— Shelly Bedrossian, Vice Chair, Marblehead Recreation and Parks Commission

“We have really, really, really tried to do a full-size ring, but we just can't do it.”

— Shelly Bedrossian, Vice Chair, Marblehead Recreation and Parks Commission

“We need to be independent and self-sufficient.”

— Shelly Bedrossian, Vice Chair, Marblehead Recreation and Parks Commission

What’s next

The project's first phase now moves to the Marblehead Select Board, which will decide whether to authorize funding and allow the next stage of planning to proceed.

The takeaway

The new multi-use sports facility aims to address a longstanding need for more local practice space, reducing travel burdens for youth sports families in Marblehead. However, concerns remain about the potential environmental and financial impacts of synthetic turf, which will be further evaluated in the second phase of the project.