INNISFAIL – As volunteers installed Innisfail’s first all-inclusive playground earlier this month construction workers were simultaneously creating the town’s new boarded outdoor rink.
The site of the facility, which is being built on a projected budget of $372,650, is about 25 metres east of the new playground at the Napoleon Park Sports Field behind the Innisfail Twin Arena.
The construction contract for the project was awarded to Reward Construction Ltd. from Leduc County.
The new outdoor rink is envisioned to offer multi-season use. There will be skating in the winter, and possibly in late fall and early spring. From late spring through summer and into early fall the facility could offer basketball opportunities.
On Aug. 12 a concrete base was created at the new site, which is just west of where the old boardless rink sat in previous winters.
Curtis Hoffman, the town’s engineering coordinator who was at the site on Aug. 12, said curing for the concrete base began for seven days and is expected to be completed this week. Boards and lights will also be installed.
Hoffman said an installation of a changing shack, which had been discussed at town council earlier in the year, has not yet been decided.
“Definitely on the wish list,” said Hoffman.
Hoffman said the new facility will be an upgrade over the existing boarded outdoor rink at at 54th Avenue and 37th Street.
“It’s newer and a little bigger than the one we have,” said Hoffman. “With the proximity to the existing arena we'll be able to do a little more maintenance on it because it's more accessible.”
The outdoor rink project is hoped to be fully completed by mid-September.
The town is hoping to have a grand opening celebration for the project, along with the adjacent all-inclusive playground and the nearby Diamond 7 ball field at a yet undetermined date next month.
