By Logan Wells, News Director | Logan@kymnradio.net
Last Tuesday, at the Northfield City Council meeting, the architects for the new Ice Arena revealed an updated design plan. Currently, the design is about 30% complete, and this is the first visual look at the design. The new ice arena would be located at Cannon Road and Honey Locust Drive in southern Northfield. The architects choose this design for a few reasons. First, it offers space for a second sheet of ice for future expansions. Second, there is easy transportation access as the ice arena is near Highway 3.
However, Mayor Rhonda Pownell, at the council meeting, raised concerns about the number of parking spots and available street parking in the area. The current ice arena has approximately 150 parking spaces between the parking lot and on-street parking; however, that has usually not been enough as the parking lots for businesses around the ice arena have been regularly used during events. The new facility would have 177 parking spaces but few spaces for on-street parking on Cannon Road, which is a smaller road with no paved shoulders. City staff said they would look into additional options for parking.
However, Mayor Rhonda Pownell, at the council meeting, raised concerns about the number of parking spots and available street parking in the area. The current ice arena has approximately 150 parking spaces between the parking lot and on-street parking; however, that has usually not been enough as the parking lots for businesses around the ice arena have been regularly used during events. The new facility would have 177 parking spaces but few spaces for on-street parking on Cannon Road, which is a smaller road with no paved shoulders. City staff said they would look into additional options for parking.
Inside the arena, the design is focused on trying to stay “efficient” and “welcoming” in its use of space. The sheet of ice is on the same level as the building, providing a more accessible venue. The designers cited the arena’s use in the off-season as the venue for the book fair and other community events as one reason for this, keeping the arena accessible for all patrons and all events.
In October, the City of Dundas and the Northfield Public Schools will formally sign the partnership agreement with Northfield to help fund the project, and the Northfield Hockey Association will donate $2 million to the project. The total construction budget is expected to be $21 million. Final construction plans will be approved this fall and the old ice arena is expected to be sold by the end of the year. Construction is set to begin in 2025 with the new Ice Arena open in 2026.
