City Council Presentation - 6/3/26 - Escondido Ice Sports Proposal

The City Council of Escondido held a presentation on June 3, 2026, to discuss the Rinks Foundation's proposal to construct and operate a new three-sheet ice sports facility at Kit Carson Park. The proposal includes full funding by the Rinks Foundation for construction, maintenance, and operation, with no financial contribution required from the city. The project aims to address the community's need for ice sports facilities following the closure of the Escondido Iceplex in 2020. The Foundation also pledged $4 million to assist with relocating the adult softball complex impacted by the project. The council was asked to approve a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to begin public engagement and further exploration of the project, including environmental and entitlement reviews. If approved, the city will launch a public information page and host community meetings to gather feedback. The lease agreement would be for 25 years with options to extend up to 50 years, after which ownership would revert to the city. No final lease or construction approvals were made at this meeting; the MOU serves as a step to advance the public conversation and due diligence process.