MANKATO, Minn. -
If you like to lace up your skates and hit the ice, with only 2 rinks in Mankato split between 40 teams, clubs, and the community, you may have to settle for odd times at the rinks or just cut your time on the ice all together.
Paul Ostoff with All Seasons Arena says, "A Mankato kid coming out is every year getting 30–40 hours less than a Rochester kid or an Owatonna kids, or an Albert Lea kid."
The need is obvious, but how to fix the need is still in the works...and that's where the county comes in.
Ostoff says, "The County has the biggest ability to purchase land; they probably have more ability to do that than anybody."
The Mankato Area Hockey Association, or MAHA, has had its eyes set on a piece of city –owned land near Caswell Park in North Mankato to build two new rinks.
But others in the community think a regional sports complex might be a better, and more cost effective, route.
Chad Surprenant with I&S Group says, "For track, basketball, volleyball, community uses such as walking, running those types of things."
MAHA says new rinks or an entire sports complex, it doesn't matter, they just desperately need ice.
MAHA Board Member Steve Hatkin says, "We have a short term need, that if we don't get to now it is going to hurt the longer term growth of our program."
No action was taken at today's meeting.
BEC Board Chair Mark Piepho says, "At this point we are just in the discussion, we have committed to anything."
But those pushing for more ice hope as they continue to make the rounds with other governmental bodies, they can develop a clear plan for the future--the very near future.
Surprenant says, "This facility can and would likely be built in phases, but at this time, its imperative to acquire the appropriate land, both location and quantity."
If a regional sports complex is the chosen route, possible locations discussed at Tuesday's meeting include, out by the airport or on the northeast edge of Mankato near the River Hills Mall.
