The Neerlandia Sports Committee is hoping to break ground on a new outdoor ice rink this year.
However, before they do, the non-profit community organization needs to raise another $50,000 which is why the group is hosting the second-ever Walk, Run, Shuffle on Saturday, May 13.
Brent Wierenga, one of the event organizers, said the committee has about $50,000 saved so far, but they figure it will take close to double that to complete the first stage of the project.
In the first stage, the committee plans to pour the concrete base and install rink boards. In subsequent stages the hope is to enclose the rink.
Ideally, Wierenga said they hope to pour the concrete in such a way that it will include the option of putting in all the necessary piping for artificial ice.
“We already have most of the labour and the heavy equipment needed for the project lined up. All we really need, at least in this first stage of the project is the cost of the materials,” he said, adding the bulk of which will be the concrete.
The hamlet has been without an outdoor ice rink for about four years after it had to be bulldozed to make room for the new Neerlandia Public Christian School (NPCS).
As a makeshift measure, volunteers constructed a temporary rink.
“It was actually pretty popular and it really got a lot of use this winter, ” he said. “In a lot of ways it isn’t much different than the original rink, which I think was made sometime in the 1940s. We just leveled some ground and instead of building actual boards we used hay bales.”
As for the event itself it starts at 9 a.m. with the run at NPCS. Participants can choose to take part in three distances, three, five and 10 kilometres.
Registration fee is $30 per individual or $60 for a family.
After the walk/run or shuffle, there will be a brunch, which is included in the fee, while those who just want to take part in the brunch the price is $10.
For more information call Wierenga at 780-910-0630.
