ROCKAWAY PARK — This new hockey rink isn't for the birds.
The peninsula's renovated, state-of-the-art hockey rink opened Friday months ahead of schedule — and has been painted a deep blue to help make it less appealing to local seagulls, officials said.
The floor of the open-air rink, which was severely damaged by Hurricane Sandy in 2012, is now colored a shade of ocean blue in a bid to discourage birds from dropping and breaking shell-covered mollusks on it to get at the meat inside — as they do on many surfaces close to shore.
It also features new asphalt and lights for nighttime play, according to the Parks Department.
Construction began in March with funds from Councilman Eric Ulrich and the Parks Department.
While primarily home to the Rockaway Rockies, it will also host events from local groups and parks.