Improvements will soon be made to the South Haven Ice Rink now that the city council has approved the issuance of downtown development and refund bonds to pay for the project.
Speaking at the council’s regular meeting this week, City Manager Kate Hosier said the DDA is looking to do about $2 million in work at the rink.
“As we know, we have a very well-received ice rink that takes a lot of time and effort to construct each fall and a lot of time and effort to deconstruct each spring,” Hosier said. “These improvements are looking to sink into new concrete the chilling elements, so that we do not have to build such a large gravel base as well as new coils every year.”
Hosier said this will mean savings on maintenance and staff time at the rink each year. Under the council’s resolution, up to $2 million in bonds will now be sought for the work while some existing DDA bonds will be refunded, saving between $24,000 and $26,000.
Hosier was asked about the timeline for the project.
“We are trying to thread the needle. This is a four-season pavilion, so the idea is that as soon as we can get the ice rink taken off, we would begin removals immediately. The plan is to have the project wrapped up before the majority of summer. There may be a couple weeks where the farmer’s market may be in Dyckman Park, but the plan is to get this done as soon as possible, so it will be wrapped up before, I think, June 30.”
Hosier said the farmers market may have to move to Dyckman Park for a couple of weeks, but the plan is to get started as soon as possible so the work is all wrapped up by June 30.
The project will also include some parking improvements at the rink. The city council then approved the bonding resolution.
