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The design for an NHL-sized ice skating rink for south Reno has been approved, according to Joel Grace, who is the President of the Board for the Greater Reno Community Ice Skating Association. He said the first phase should be complete by end of year 2020. He said the contractor has to be done by then because they are also the ice rink contractor for the Winter Olympics and will begin work on that project next in Beijing in 2022.
Phase one construction is estimated at $9.5 million and will use more than 3.83 acres of the 6-acre lease held by Greater Reno Community Ice Skating Association, located on Wedge Parkway in the South Valleys Regional Sports Complex near the yellow library. The first phase includes the parking lot and landscaping, as well as a 38,843-square-foot building, which will house the lobby area, locker rooms, a rental and pro shop, mechanical and Zamboni room and the rink itself. The NHL-regulation ice skating facility will offer year-round recreation.
The facility will be called the Jennifer M. O'Neal Community Ice Arena after the O'Neal family made the lead donation on the facility, which has been years in the making. The Greater Reno Community Ice Skating Association was founded in 2015 in an attempt to build an indoor rink in Northern Nevada. The facility also will house figure-skating lessons, open skates, birthday parties and other community events.
"The facility will be built to offer events tailored to all members of the community," GRCISA President Joel Grace said, "We will be offering skating lessons for all ages, power skating, figure skating, broom ball, ice hockey, sled hockey, and curling. The ice rink will be able to host group events and parties as well. Reno is a winter sports town, with a noticeable shortcoming. We are looking forward to offering the adults and children of this community an opportunity to enjoy all ice related activities, both competitively or recreationally."
This project is funded by private donations not tax dollars.
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