A master plan for renovating Hailey's historic rodeo arena was given a unanimous thumbs-up by the Hailey City Council Monday, and a round of applause from a diverse group of sports enthusiasts.
The plan calls for an ice-skating rink, an expanded skate park and a renovated rodeo arena, which has been used by the Sawtooth Rangers riding club since 1948. The new and improved rodeo grounds could also be used for concerts, farmers' markets and other community events.
Cowboys, skaters and hockey players and their supporters have been working with city officials since last summer to devise an architectural plan that would make everyone happy.
The Sawtooth Rangers were facing costs of upgrading the rodeo grounds, the nearby skate park needed to expand its terrain, and the Hailey Ice hockey club needed a home.
Somehow it all came together on Monday when Ketchum-based Ruscitto/Latham/Blanton architects presented a master plan for the city-owned property.
"It has been a roller-coaster ride," said Becki Keefer, project coordinator for the Hailey Parks and Lands Board. "The next step is funding."
Keefer spearheaded the effort to gather information on a new master plan for the rodeo grounds at the behest of the City Council last year.
A familiar Western mural marks the rodeo grounds, which were built in 1948. Improvement of the property ranked as the highest priority city development project in a recent citizen satisfaction survey.
The new plan calls for relocating the rodeo arena to the east, and adding an ice rink and parking spaces on the west side of the property. The skate park would be expanded toward the east, with beginner and intermediate street-skating terrain.
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The new plan also calls for a visitor center and museum with restrooms.
Architect Nicholas Latham said some portion of the existing "White Wall" that marks the south entrance to Hailey with historic cowboy murals will be incorporated into the final design.
The rink will not be covered until funding becomes available.
In other Hailey news:
· The council granted Copper Ranch developer Jeff Smith a 180-day building permit extension to complete the site's health and fitness facility after he showed photos of a recent cleanup of the grounds. Smith said he is working toward a sale of the property to Gold's Gym and is uncertain if three tennis courts at the facility will be open this winter.
· The council asked for a written agreement by Sweetwater attorney Jim Laski that spells out a proposed compromise between the city and developer J. Kevin Adams that would allow for final plat approval of 45 completed townhouse units. The compromise includes half of the affordable housing units agreed to in the original planned unit development agreement.
Tony Evans: tevans@mtexpress.com
Plans were approved Monday for the rodeo grounds in Hailey. Courtesy graphic
