Friday, September 24, 2010

Hailey Ice breaks ground for new rink

Facility scheduled for completion in November 2011


By TONY EVANS
Express Staff Writer

Thanks to a $3.3 million anonymous donation, the city of Hailey will have a tournament-ready ice rink of its own by winter 2011.

The donation is expected to be in hand by late December.

The nonprofit organization Hailey Ice held a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the beginning of construction of the new facility on Monday. Construction is proceeding with about $500,000 in funds gathered during the past 10 years.

Hailey Ice board President Ron Fairfax said the facility is being built using local construction companies.

"So far, nothing has gone out of town," he said.

Young Construction is providing general contractor services for the project, following a design provided by Ketchum-based Ruscitto-Latham-Blanton Architecture. Burks Excavation began excavating the site at the city rodeo grounds Wednesday morning. Garrett Construction will provide the concrete footings in coming weeks. Hailey-based Power Engineers was chosen to provide construction management services.

"Our donor wanted Power Engineers involved," Fairfax said.

Fairfax said the identity of the donor has been kept secret because he does not like publicity.

"Our donor is a huge sports fan," he said.

Fairfax said the donor found out about the need for funding for the rink from Reamy Goodwin, a high school coach in the valley.

"Reamy will be running the summer programs at the new rink," Fairfax said.

The $3.8 million facility will provide year-round recreation in Hailey, with room enough for several indoor tennis courts and other sports activities. During winter, it will provide a venue for regional hockey tournaments, women's leagues and kids programs.

"Most of the younger players are from Hailey and Bellevue," Fairfax said. "They will no longer have to drive to Sun Valley."

The project is part of a larger makeover of the rodeo grounds that includes a new rodeo arena and a visitor center.

Tony Evans: tevans@mtexpress.com




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