CARENCRO, La. (AP) - The former Louisiana Ice Arena along Interstate 49 in Carencro has been purchased by the city and will become a new indoor recreation center.
The Advocate reports (https://bit.ly/1z9Lwgh) the 17,000-square-foot ice rink will be converted to a turf field lined for soccer, lacrosse and football. An area once home to a Zamboni and the arena’s massive ice-refrigeration system will be refitted for batting and pitching practice.
Plans are for a 11,500-square-foot addition with a wooden court for basketball and volleyball and possibly rooms for aerobics.
The 3.1-acre property was vacant almost a year before the city bought it for $1.8 million in December.
The city had planned to build a new 19,000-square-foot recreation center near Pelican Park at a cost of $3.75 million. But when the arena went up for sale, the city seized on the deal to double its plans.
Parks and Recreation Chairman Murray Conque said the project will be completed in two phases. First up is to remodel the existing structure, which is tattered from more than a decade of use and a year of vacancy.
Officials expect bidding for the project to begin in about a month, with the first phase of construction set to begin by the end of summer. The second phase should be complete by the same time next year.
The cost for the first phase of construction is estimated at $830,000, which includes an additional 20 percent contingency to cover any unexpected costs that might arise. Phase two - which involves adding a gym - is estimated to cost about $1.76 million.
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Information from: The Advocate, https://theadvocate.com
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