Extra money is going into upgrades at Lumby’s Pat Duke Memorial Arena.
Fundraising efforts have led to $16,000 being collected by the local Kraft Hockeyville organizing committee.
“It’s great,” said Tannis Nelson, White Valley Parks, Recreation and Culture manager of community services.
“People really appreciated the efforts of the local organizing committee and the fundraising demonstrated that.”
The $16,000 is on top of the $100,000 Lumby earned by capturing the Kraft Hockeyville title.
Nelson is also pursuing other grants.
“We want to try and leverage this as far as we can,” she said.
Additional money may also come from Hockeyville merchandise sale.
Improved girls change rooms at the arena are the priority for the Hockeyville funds, but a local politician wonders if more can be done there.
Randal Ostafichuk, a White Valley director, would like the 2017 budget process to consider the possibility of a fitness room in the arena.
“There’s been a significant call for fitness facilities.”
Among the other items he would like considered as part of park and recreation’s budget talks are an off-leash dog park at Cedar Ridge Park and a memorial pathway so residents can honour loved ones.
“The rest of the committee is receptive but now is the fun part of crunching the numbers,” said Ostafichuk.
An open house on possible changes to Cedar Ridge Park, as well as a community stage in Oval Park, will be held Nov. 10 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the White Valley Community Centre.
