Funding from the state budget will allow John F. Kennedy Civic Arena in Rome to be open year round, supporting sports like basketball and lacrosse in addition to hockey. 

Assemblywoman Marrianne Buttenschon announced the funding last week, which allocated $50,000 to the arena and $30,000 to assist the Rome Fire Department. 

“Kennedy Arena has always been an excellent ice hockey facility," Rome Mayor Jacqueline Izzo said, "but in reviewing the facility’s offseason use it became apparent to us that we were grossly underutilizing the arena, especially in the spring and summer months."

Izzo said Ryan Hickey, Rome's deputy director of parks and recreation, has been in talks with youth basketball teams looking for a basketball facility closer to home. The city will use Progym interlocking multi-surface flooring, which can support many different sports, to create three basketball courts in the arena outside of hockey season.

The city plans to launch the new basketball courts next spring or summer. 

“Kennedy Arena will be a great venue as a year-round sports facility,” Izzo said. 

The John F. Kennedy Civic Arena — located at 500 W. Embargo St. — was constructed in 1963 and completed in 1964, according to the city of Rome’s website. 

The arena is co-located with the municipal pool and hosts numerous figure skating and ice hockey events, along with youth skating programs. Rome Free Academy's varsity hockey team also calls the 1,200-seat facility home. 

Renovations at the arena began in 2008. Phase II of the renovation project was completed in 2011. 

The renovations to the arena specifically covered the warming room and concession area. Officials hoped these renovations would allow for better off-season use of the facility. 

Both Izzo and Buttenschon said there were no immediate uses highlighted for the $30,000 allotted for the Rome Fire Department. 

Izzo said the city would work with Rome Fire Department Chief Tom Iacovissi to figure out how best to utilize the money. In a statement, Izzo highlighted the possibility of using the money for health and wellness programs within the department.  

Buttenschon said the department could use the money for any future needs that may arise. 

“The budget this year provided money for the City of Rome Parks and Recreation Department and for the City of Rome Fire Department,” Buttenschon said in a statement. “I cannot think of any two better places for these funds to be used.” 

Ed Harris is the Oneida County reporter for the Observer-Dispatch. Email Ed Harris at EHarris1@gannett.com.