Shaker Heights Plans New Ice Rink and Community Center

City Council approves feasibility study for recreation upgrades at Thornton Park and Stephanie Tubbs Jones Community Building.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 6:24pm

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A bold, colorful silkscreen-style illustration featuring a repeating pattern of a hockey puck and basketball, conceptually representing the dual sports and recreation focus of the facility upgrades in Shaker Heights.Shaker Heights plans to invest in new sports and recreation facilities to serve the community for years to come.Shaker Heights Today

The city of Shaker Heights, Ohio is moving forward with plans to upgrade its recreation facilities, including a new ice rink at Thornton Park and a replacement for the aging Stephanie Tubbs Jones Community Building. City Council has approved an $80,000 feasibility study to evaluate the size, space, and potential costs for these two priority projects as part of the city's broader Recreation Strategic Plan.

Why it matters

Shaker Heights is seeking to modernize its aging recreation infrastructure to better serve the community. The Thornton Park ice arena is over 50 years old and in need of significant repairs, while the Stephanie Tubbs Jones building was originally designed as a library and no longer meets the community's needs. These upgrades aim to provide updated facilities and expanded programming for residents.

The details

The feasibility study will examine options for either renovating the existing Thornton Park ice arena or building a new 1- or 1.5-sheet rink. The old rink could then be repurposed into a field house or replaced with outdoor courts. For the Stephanie Tubbs Jones building, the plan is to demolish the existing structure and replace it with a new two-story community center that includes an indoor gym and expanded programming space. The city will seek input from stakeholders like the Shaker Youth Collaborative and Forward Together task force to determine the optimal uses and space needs for the new facility.

  • The feasibility study is expected to be completed by May 2027.
  • The Thornton Park ice arena will undergo core testing and minor concrete repairs starting in July 2026, with a 6-week closure.
  • One of the Thornton Park ice arena's compressors needs an overhaul, with funding already allocated in the city's 2026 capital budget.

The players

Kara Hamley O'Donnell

The city's principal planner, who noted that access to the Shaker Heights middle school property is still more than 10 years away.

John Doyle

The city's recreation director, who pointed to a 2018 study estimating about 10 years of useful life remaining on the undersized Thornton Park ice rink.

Joyce Braverman

The city's planning director, who explained that the feasibility study will focus on operations and funding, not design or engineering.

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What they’re saying

“Access to the (Shaker Heights) middle school property is still more than 10 years away.”

— Kara Hamley O'Donnell, Principal Planner

“We're looking at how to operate and how to fund the probable costs of these two facilities.”

— Joyce Braverman, Planning Director

What’s next

City Council will select a consultant later this month to begin the year-long, $80,000 feasibility study on the Thornton Park ice arena and Stephanie Tubbs Jones Community Building replacement.

The takeaway

Shaker Heights is taking proactive steps to modernize its aging recreation infrastructure and provide updated facilities and expanded programming to better serve the community's needs. The feasibility study will help the city determine the optimal solutions for the Thornton Park ice arena and the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Community Building replacement.