A $640,000 proposal to renovate and add an ice rink to the 6-acre Casey Park  in Watertown is bringing praise from parents and coaches, but is also invoking harsh criticism from some neighbors who say the park already draws a rowdy late-night crowd.

The park, which sits on Watertown Street near the Newton border, is one of the busiest recreational facilities in town, with a mix of offerings that includes tennis and basketball courts, fields for baseball and soccer, and a playground and swings for younger kids, said Peter Centola, director of the Recreation Department.