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…