HOYT LAKES, Minn. (Northern News Now) – A major investment is giving a Community Recreation and Wellness Center on the Iron Range a big boost.
Hoyt Lakes is unveiling big upgrades at the Community Recreation and Wellness Center—new accessibility improvements, new seating, and a rebuilt rink. City leaders say the nearly $4.9 million project is designed to serve not only Hoyt Lakes, but the entire region.
This familiar community hub is showcasing a fresh start after serving residents since 1969.
Hoyt Lakes Mayor Brennan Scott said, “we were hitting a point where insurance wasn’t going to be covering cost to repair. So, in order to make sure that we had an ice rink, we needed to make those updates.”
And now the building has new entry doors, wheelchair lifts, and new bleachers, but one of the biggest changes is behind the scenes: a new ice plant to keep the rink more consistent all season.
“For residents to come spend time with each other rather than, especially in the winter, just staying in their homes, not seeing other people from the community,” said Scott.
The project cost nearly 5 million dollars, funded through state dollars and support from Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation.
Local taxpayers will also pay about $2 to $5 more a month for 20 years to keep the facility running.
Recreation director Steve Peterson said, “just trying to find ways to keep these doors open for a lot longer hours than they have been in the past, you know, six in the morning to nine at night.”
Beyond hockey, the center hosts everything from pickleball to weddings and concerts—a gathering place leaders say small towns depend on.
Community development director for the IRRRB Whitne Ridlon said, “it is quintessential to our Iron Range communities and our way of life. The arena project, it not only serves the residents of Hoyt Lakes through having a community facility in their city, but it also supports the region and has an economic benefit.”
The facility is open to the public and available to people across the Taconite Assistance Area, leaders say the goal now is keeping the facility busy year-round.
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