PLYMOUTH, N.H.-
Skaters are finally sweeping across the ice at Plymouth State University’s Hanaway Rink, a $16 million dollar facility that opened to the public July 12. Hundreds of youth and adult hockey players, figure skaters and recreational skaters from central New Hampshire now have access to the facility in Holderness, which also serves as a teaching facility for instruction and research in ice activities and wellness, a home for PSU men’s and women’s ice hockey teams, and a site for student recreation.
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| Eight year-old Ila Bartenstein of Northfield, N.H., center, a member of the Magic Blades figure skating club, tries out Plymouth State University’s new $16 million Ice Arena, which opened to the public July 12. The arena features year-round ice, allowing hundreds of youth and adult hockey players and figure skaters to enjoy their sport 12 months a year. The 850-seat Arena on Route 175-A in Holderness also serves as a teaching facility for instruction and research in ice activities and wellness, a home for PSU men’s and women’s ice hockey teams, and a site for student recreation. |
At a July 12 ‘sneak peek’ event for the community, PSU President Sara Jayne Steen welcomed dozens of visitors, noting the facility embodies community cooperation.
“Our regional community has been enormously supportive,” said Steen. “Many area businesses and community members, for example, are sponsors of the Hanaway Rink and Savage Welcome Center, helping to create something wonderful for the campus and the region.”
The Eugene and Joan Savage Welcome Center at the PSU Ice Arena features an expansive lobby and facilities that will provide an attractive meeting place for prospective students, parents, and visitors to the campus and towns of Plymouth and Holderness and the wider region. Scott Stephens, Executive Director of the Plymouth Regional Chamber of Commerce, believes the PSU Ice Arena will boost the region’s economy.
“This state-of-the-art facility will soon be one of our region’s biggest tourist attractions,” said Stephens. “This will have a tremendous impact on the Plymouth region’s businesses.”
The PSU Ice Arena is the first of a five-phase plan to construct PSU’s new ALLWell Center complex (Active Living, Learning, and Wellness).
Future phases of the ALLWell Center will house classrooms, research laboratories, lecture halls, and multipurpose activity laboratories for academic and athletic programs. A new field house will provide additional instructional space. An aquatic center will enhance capacity for instruction, community programming, and serve as a qualified competition venue. The Foley Gymnasium eventually will be relocated to a new building that will house instructional and laboratory facilities, an athletic training suite, and strength and conditioning centers for students and the community.
The entire project is designed so that on-going activities are not interrupted as new facilities come on line and old facilities are removed.
For more information about this release, contact Bruce Lyndes, PSU Media Relations Mgr., (603) 535-2775 or blyndes@plymouth.edu
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