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Grand Re-Opening of North Buffalo Ice Rink
by shanr1
Grand Re-Opening of North Buffalo Ice Rink
8:34 AM, Nov 21, 2011 |
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http://www.sw-contracting.com/showcase/portfolio/100016/north-buffalo-ice-rink-project
Buffalo, NY - What was once old and even considered by Mayor Byron Brown as the worst ice skating rink in the city is now brand new, and already becoming the premier place for public skating and playing ice hockey.
Hundreds of thousands of tax payer money was used to breathe new life into the North Buffalo Ice Rink.
The rink was given a facelift which Mayor Byron Brown tells 2 On Your Side cost the city about $900k. Money he says was well spent to continue to improve the quality of life for young children and their families.
Mark Bailey was at the rink watching his son's ice hockey practice.
"To have this right within, 5 minutes from home. Stopping spot on the way is awesome," said Bailey.
John Voit says he's been coming here for years. "Its fantastic. I've been playing here for like 20-years, and it's never looked better really to tell you the truth," said Voit.
"This is great. We use it not only for the hockey, but we like to come here for the open skate too and with all the renovations its just its cleaner, its brighter, it's a lot more family friendly," said Kathy Cauley as she too watched her son practice on the ice.
Anyone stepping inside the rink on Tacoma Avenue will see the completion of the first major upgrade there since it opened about 20 years ago. New boards, glass, lights, and even a new ceiling has been installed.
Mayor Brown says while the city picked up most of the tab using money from the city's capital budget, The Bison Hockey Association also chipped in about $25k as well on top of generous donations that also came in from the community.
Barney Walsh, President of the Buffalo Bison Association, said the new rink re-opened back in August, and already serves about 425 young ice hockey players on 20 different teams.
"Its been non-stop and it's been nothing but joy to work on it and see that transformation everyday, and as you stand here in the front entrance, the only thing we haven't done is taken a polaroid of everybody who's walked in the rink and their chin drop when they saw how much lighter and friendly it was," said Walsh.
The re-opening of the North Buffalo Ice Rink now brings the number of city owned rinks for ice hockey back up to 3, according to Walsh. For quite some time now players had to travel into the suburbs just to find some ice time.
http://www.sw-contracting.com/showcase/portfolio/100016/north-buffalo-ice-rink-project
