Coon Rapids arena nearly complete

It's almost ice time in Coon Rapids, as the city's new arena nears completion.

Outside, a completed wood, brick and glass facade greets passersby on Coon Rapids Boulevard. Stepping inside, visitors also get a blast of chilly air, in preparation for the ice sheet that is set to be painted and flooded this week. The arena's grand opening is scheduled for Oct. 1.

The soaring space is accented by Cardinal red; the arena will be Coon Rapids High School's home ice. High windows let in natural light, one of the arena's several energy-saving attributes. Glass barriers are embedded in the boards; no dividers will impede sightlines in the arena.

Construction equipment still is scattered throughout the site, but it's not much of a stretch to imagine the arena's rinks, stands and lobby populated by skaters and their families. The hope is that the rink will be open for skating by Sept. 6. Though the festivities for that day still are being planned, they are to include a performance by Ryan Bradley, reigning U.S. men's figure skating champion.

The summer's high humidity has slowed the drying of concrete, but construction is proceeding on schedule and within the $10.5 million budget, to be paid off through gate receipts and taxpayer-financed bonds. The city paid an additional $3 million to acquire and prepare the 25-acre site for the arena and a community center that is planned to be built in several phases. The properties remaining on the site are to be razed this fall, with existing businesses relocated.

City Manager Matt Fulton noted that people have asked why the arena's front door faces south, rather than east, toward Coon Rapids Boulevard; it was built to be only one part of a much larger development. Officials hope the city's investment along the boulevard will spark redevelopment there, and that the arena and the proposed community center will prove to be a regional draw, increasing interest in the city and raising property values.

Although a majority of residents indicated on a 2007 survey that they would support a community center project, the proposal faced fierce opposition when it came to a council vote two years ago. The city is seeking public and private partnerships as it looks at continuing the project; another survey is in the works.

As it stands, the arena is 59,215 square feet, slab on grade, plus an upper level that will include suite seating, offices and dry workout space. Some other highlights:

•A Wi-Fi lounge, where parents can work or surf the Internet while their children skate.

•Two party rooms and a large meeting room that could serve as community space.

•Eight locker rooms.

•Zero-clearance team boxes with clear boards, built to accommodate adaptive hockey teams.

•A refrigerated rink that will provide outdoor skating as much as five months out of the year.

The nearby Cook Arena, built in 1973, is still open but will be razed soon after the new arena is operational.