St. George has officially opened two outdoor ball hockey rinks at JC Snow Park near downtown, giving the city's fast-growing ball hockey community a public place to play. The rinks won't see a drop of ice — instead, they're built for the sport of ball hockey, which has taken off locally in recent years and now draws hundreds of players of all ages.
From a Parking Lot to a Public Park
The project, reported by KSL News, involved renovating an existing rink at JC Snow Park, building a brand-new second rink, and adding a pavilion. The city says the whole effort cost about $700,000, covering excavation, concrete, boards, surfacing and labor. According to the same report, the rink boards alone ran around $125,000, while surfacing cost roughly $50,000; the city says it handled landscaping in-house to help keep the overall price down.
Funding came through a voter-approved RAP tax — the recreation, arts and parks tax that has previously paid for new parks and park upgrades around the city, per KSL's report. Red Rock Hockey, the local hockey organization that has driven much of the sport's growth in the area, also facilitated donations well into the six figures and contributed labor to the build. City project manager Mark Gobel said the city appreciates that kind of community backing, and Red Rock Hockey's Cory Henwood said the group supported the project both financially and through hands-on labor, the station's report notes.
A League That Outgrew a Parking Lot
Red Rock Hockey's rise has been rapid. The league started in 2023 with just 50 players who initially practiced in a school parking lot before moving to an outdoor futsal field at JC Snow Park, per the same account. From there, it grew into the several-hundred-participant organization it is today, with teams ranging from 4-year-olds up through adult leagues. The nonprofit group USA Ball Hockey reports that Red Rock Hockey now serves more than 350 participants year-round, nearly doubling in size every season since it began, and has already expanded into Nevada with an eye toward Arizona next.
That growth trajectory mirrors what USA Ball Hockey describes as the sport's grassroots roots: players organizing themselves for pickup games before things evolve into organized tournaments, brackets and dedicated rinks. St. George's new facility marks the culmination of that arc locally, turning informal games into a permanent, city-backed amenity.
Shared Space at a Busy Park
The two rinks will operate somewhat like soccer fields, according to KSL's report — used for organized recreation and competitive league play during certain times of the week, while also remaining open to public use as part of JC Snow Park's broader amenities.
The rinks join an already busy park. JC Snow Park includes a playground, a dog park, a volleyball sand pit, a horseshoe pit and a popular skate park, giving the area a wide mix of recreation options beyond hockey. The city held its official opening for the two new rinks on Sept. 15.
Part of a Bigger Ball Hockey Movement
Other Ball Hockey Plans St. George isn't the only city where ball hockey has been discussed. In Illinois, Crystal Lake has considered a possible outdoor ball hockey rink at Woodscreek Park, with conceptual drawings and plans to raise money, according to the Northwest Herald. St. George's investment and community fundraising helped make its local project possible.
