WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) – The Wausau School District voted during their meeting on Monday to contribute toward a study that will determine if an expansion of the city’s ice rink facility is necessary.
The board voted unanimously to support contributing $5000 to the study due to the facility being used by the district’s teams. The proposal includes a second sheet of ice and an update to equipment that has been used since the 1970s.
Director of Parks, Recreation, and Forestry for the city of Wausau, Jamie Polley, stated that this vote is a big step forward to making this plan a reality, saying, “I think it’s a great opportunity for a public and private partnership for a much needed and used facility in our community. The county has been running the facility for 50+ years, and it’s heavily used but could serve a bigger population year-round, and this is an opportunity to enhance the economic development of it overall.”
The study will help determine how much square footage the facility will need and will cost around $32,500 to complete. Wausau Youth Hockey has contributed $5000 toward the cost of the study, and the city’s Parks, Recreation, and Forestry department donation account has $10,500 available to contribute. The City Parks & Recreation Committee will also be considering a donation of $6,000 toward the study.
The arena currently hosts several youth hockey regional tournaments, Cyclones games, and Wausau West/East and Merrill High School games.
