The outdoor rink at RJ Gidluck Park in Warman is slated to receive a significant upgrade this summer.
The improvements will allow the rink to be used year round, and include a warm-up facility, concrete pad, new boards, a six-foot chain-link puck containment system, LED lighting and a zamboni shed.
When completed, the revitalized rink facility will be similar to the highly-popular outdoor rink in Prairie Oasis Park in Warman.
The outdoor rink at RJ Gidluck Park, located across the street from École Warman Elementary School and adjacent to the Warman Fire Hall, has been around for many years, but it can only be used during daylight hours. The lack of a warm-up facility has also limited its use when the thermometer drops to very low levels.
In a news release on Monday, April 25, the City of Warman announced it has received $177,000 in funding from the Government of Canada.
Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) through the Canada Community Revitalization Fund (CCRF), accounts for over 40 percent of the project’s anticipated total cost of approximately $413,000. The remainder of the cost will come out of the City of Warman’s 2022 capital budget.
“The City is thankful that PrairiesCan recognized the importance of this project for our community,” said Warman Mayor Gary Philipchuk. “We are grateful for this partnership opportunity with them.
“This vibrant facility will further enhance the beautiful RJ Gidluck Park and will meet the diverse recreational needs and interests of our growing community.”
“Our government is pleased to invest in the R.J. Gidluck Outdoor Arena through the Canada Community Revitalization Fund,” said the Honourable Daniel Vandal, Minister for PrairiesCan. “These upgrades and new park features will bring Warman’s residents together and provide them with enhanced year-round recreational opportunities for years to come,”
Construction on the RJ Gidluck Outdoor Arena Renewal Project is set to begin in May and is expected to be completed by November.
The Canada Community Revitalization Fund helps communities rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic. The CCRF is a two-year, $500 million national program to revitalize communities through smaller infrastructure projects across Canada. The fund assists non-profit organizations, municipalities, community groups and Indigenous communities to build and improve community infrastructure projects.