Frontenac Community Arena in Godfrey, North of Kingston, to Reopen – Kingston | The Canadian News

Call it another sign of the times. The Frontenac Community Arena will once again be open to the public.

The facility north of Verona, Ontario, has been closed since before the pandemic. Now, after major renovations, the arena will open later this week.

With Friday’s soft launch fast approaching, workers continue to do their thing. Whether it’s new dressing room seats or the installation of rubber mats in the bleachers, the clock is ticking as the sand prepares to welcome the crowd.

“It has been two long years. It has been difficult not only for the staff but for our community not to have this fantastic place to come and play hockey or just be together, ”said arena manager Tim Laprade.

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Laprade says that the arena is truly a community center, a place for people. And now it is a very up to date and modern facility.

“The main project that had to be carried out was the complete removal of the old cooling system with the floor,” Laprade said.

“So all the old concrete, all the old brine lines, the headers, all of that had to be removed and then replaced with a new system.”

On top of that they have installed new boards and new glass.

As for the price tag? Major renovations are not cheap.

“The total cost was around $ 1,300,000,” Laprade said.

“Fortunately, we received significant grants from the province and the federal government of around $ 980,000 and, of course, the two municipalities contributed to the rest of the budget.”

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The public will be able to see where that money has gone when an official reopening ceremony takes place this Friday night at 6 p.m. Later, there will be self-guided tours and free skating.