Multi-Use Facilities and Site Selection
The Town operates a Multi-use Facility located on Mammoth Unified School District (MUSD) and Mono County of Education (MCOE) property at 416 Sierra Park Road. The facility consists of a multi-use ice/roller rink with chillers, storage building, concessions, restrooms and appurtenances.
Mammoth Ice Rink
In winter, the facility operates as an ice rink. The Mammoth Ice Rink is an outdoor facility offering public skating sessions, skate improvement programs, expanded adult and youth hockey programs, Friday night lessons, special events, and new this year, a midweek lunchtime skate session for only $6.00. The Ice Rink is open from November-February weather permitting. Amenities include skate sharpening, skate rentals and snack and beverage services.
In summer, the Multi-use Facility operates as the Mammoth RecZone. The RecZone is the hub for Summer Parks and Recreation Camps. The facility is an outdoor venue (with shade, lights, and concessions) located in the heart of Mammoth Lakes offering fun on skates, blades, boards, nets, hoops and on ramps. Use of the facility for a special event will be by reservation only.
The Town operates a year-round community center of approximately 2,500 square feet, located at 1000 Forest Trail just east of Minaret Boulevard. The facility has several deficiencies, but is undergoing extensive interior and minor exterior rehabilitation. The proposed Community Recreation Center has plans for a 3,000-5000 square foot mezzanine providing critical space for programmed community use.
Town Staff working in conjunction with representatives from Mammoth Lakes Recreation and the Recreation Commission were tasked to identify, evaluate and finally recommend to Town Council appropriate sites for a Multi-use Facility with anticipated complementary uses. After an extensive review of available Town-owned or managed facilities/sites that included the Community Center Parcel, Bell Shaped Parcel, Mammoth Creek Park West, Whitmore Park/Track, Field(s), Pool, Trails End Park and the parcel at Tavern and Sierra Park Road, along with the Civic Center Parcel, the Ad-Hoc Committee recommended that the Multi-use Facility be located at Mammoth Creek Park West with a complementary Community Center.
It should be noted that the review of potential sites did not include Shady Rest Park or Mammoth Creek Park East as the current USFS Special Use Permits under which these two sites are managed, do not allow the construction of this type of permanent facility.
Mammoth Creek Park West (Site)
Mammoth Creek Park West is located on Old Mammoth Road and includes a total of nearly ten acres, with only 2 acres developed for public use. Approximately 4.9 acres is Town-owned and bounded by Old Mammoth Road to the east, multi-family residential uses to the west, and multi-family residential and commercial uses to the north. The Town-owned parcel is bordered to the south by a 4.7 acre United States Forest Service (USFS) parcel. The park offers a large grass open area for small public gatherings, a recently upgraded playground (approx.7,400 sq. ft.), seasonal restrooms and picnic tables. Paved parking is available for about 44 vehicles.
The 2007 Town General Plan (page 29) notes Mammoth Creek Park should be planned to include amenities such as:
- Appropriate active recreation
- Family recreation
- A place to hold special events
- Access to Mammoth Creek, and
- Concessions and facilities including parking and restrooms.
This vision for Mammoth Creek Park was further refined in the Parks and Recreation Master Plan, and RecStrats I & II. The vision for the park was reviewed as part of the Neighborhood District Planning: Concepts & Strategies (2011). The Plan notes that the Park should include “flexible recreation and community event space.” The site also provides a strong “book-end” to South Old Mammoth Road and the Snowcreek Districts.
The Town currently holds a USFS Special Use Permit on the USFS parcel. The Town has previously constructed and currently maintains a multi-use path through that area. The Mammoth Creek Park special use permit which covers the East and West portions of the parks that are USFS owned lands, includes the following uses: “Constructing, operating and maintaining a town park adjacent to Mammoth Creek, consisting of restroom facilities, picnic tables and barbeque grills; walking and hiking paths, fishing access paths, parking and associated facilities, as in the final approved development plan. The purpose of the park is for public use, however certain facilities may be reserved for groups and special events as requested. Overnight camping is prohibited. [permit was amended to include:] Diamond bridge, storm drain basin, split rail fencing, trash containers, portion of Mammoth Lakes Trail System (including undercrossing).