The lobby of Sarnia Arena will be getting a much needed facelift.
It's the latest in a long list of upgrades to be made at the facility over the next 12 months, as part of the Sarnia Arena Revitalization Project.
Fundraising Lead Greg Burr says they are hoping to raise $491,667, which would be a third of the overall restoration costs. The other two-thirds is to be split between federal funding and the city's 2017 Parks and Recreation Capital budget.
Burr says the Sarnia Arena has been a major part of the community since it first opened in 1948.
Designs for the Sarnia Arena lobby (courtesy of the city of Sarnia)
"There are many families that started out nearly 70 years ago, just like mine, playing hockey and other activities at Sarnia Arena, hopefully the newer generation can step forward and help out as well and who knows, maybe it will serve the community for another 70 years," he says.
Burr expects work on the lobby to begin as soon as possible.
"It's something that needs to happen, it gets pretty crowded down there, especially during hockey games," says Burr. "It needs to be redesigned, we need to do some different things with the washrooms as well. We're hoping the work can get started soon."
Skate Sarnia has donated $10,000, while Bluewater Power Legacy donated $87,000 that will go towards new LED lighting.
The federal funding, through the Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program, is dependent on them meeting their fundraising efforts.
Work must be completed by March 31, 2018.
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