The Neerlandia Sports Committee is hoping to break ground on a new outdoor ice rink this fall.
That is what committee member Brent Brent Wierenga said when asked if they were going to host its annual Mother’s Day Walk, Run, Shuffle fundraiser to ‘Raise the Roof’ on a new ice rink.
“Not this year. We don’t think it is necessary,” he said, adding the committee has surpassed its fundraising goal.
Originally the sports committee’s goal was to raise $100,000, but Wierenga said their war chest now is closing in on $150,000.
In the first stage, the committee plans to pour the concrete base and install rink boards. In subsequent stages, the hope is to enclose the rink.
Ideally, Wierenga said they hope to pour the concrete in such a way that it will include the option of putting in all the necessary piping for artificial ice.
“Eventually, our plan is to not only to have the rink enclosed, but to have an actual indoor arena, complete with change rooms, et ceteria,” he said.
In some of the rough drawings the committee has created the ice rink also included a community hall.
The hamlet has been without an outdoor ice rink for about five years after it had to be bulldozed to make room for the new Neerlandia Public Christian School (NPCS).
As a makeshift measure, volunteers constructed a temporary rink.
Although Wiernega said the temporary rink, which was made by leveling ground and using hay bales as boards, is quite popular it is really too small for an organized hockey game.
The new rink will be regulation size and will be built on the old Co-op grocery store.
“Demolition of the store is complete now, so we are thinking we will probably start construction sometime in the early fall,” he said.
