You are invited to the ribbon cutting for the expanded Howelsen Ice Complex. It’s from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, June 15, at the rink. The new 4,200 square foot expansion includes second-floor viewing windows and a concession area, , a new women’s locker room, new restrooms and an office. A new multi-purpose room will allow for licensed school-age childcare programming in the fall.

Here is the full press release from the City of Steamboat Springs – Parks and Recreation

 

Grand Opening Set For Howelsen Ice Complex Expansion — Community Invited to Tour Recently Completed Facility Addition

 

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, COLORADO-June 8, 2022-As the final touches take place this week, the new Howelsen Ice Complex expansion project is ready for its public debut. The community is invited to tour the new space during a Grand Opening Celebration scheduled for Wednesday, June 15 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

 

“The new space is going to be a game changer for us,” commented Recreation Manager Alexis Wolf. “As program demands increase, we needed additional space that could be used not only for our high- priority youth programs but would also work for other programs and the community. This expansion exceeds our expectations on many levels.”

 

For those planning to attend, there will be short ribbon cutting ceremony and speeches at 5:15 PM followed by self-guided tours. Beverages and light refreshments will be provided. In addition, attendees can visit the second-floor viewing windows to check out the action taking place on the ice, and children can participate in arts & crafts projects in the new multi-use space.

 

The new 4,200 square foot space features several facility enhancements and public amenities that can accommodate more than 150 people. During the work, significant exterior modifications were also made to incorporate the new space as well as installing an exterior steel staircase.

 

The first-floor expansion includes a new women’s locker room, public restrooms, and an office. The second-floor houses numerous multi-purposes spaces including a concession area and two offices. In addition, the multi-purpose room is currently slated for licensed school-age childcare programming beginning this fall. Programming for the concession area is still to be determined but will also be available for the public to rent for special events and parties.

 

“While a space for youth has long-been a priority and the locker rooms were a necessity, the office spaces came as a bonus due to the result of having extra space,” said Parks Project Manager Matt Barnard. “That was kind of a lucky win and additional community benefit.”

 

The project design started in the summer 2020, moved to the construction phase the following summer and wrapped up this month, about a year after groundbreaking. The $2.05 million improvement project was managed by Parks & Recreation working with Steamboat Engineering and Design, a structural engineering firm.