Piscataquis County Ice Arena to open in August
DOVER-FOXCROFT — Construction of the new $5.5 million Piscataquis County Ice Arena (PCIA) in is taking shape on the interior of the building. Work started last summer and has continued through the snow and cold of the winter months, pouring concrete, adding walls, and now, leveling the area that will be the playing surface.
The Libra Foundation broke ground on the project last summer and since then the exterior of the building on West Main Street has been on display for all to see. Now the interior is starting to come together.
Observer file photo/Stuart Hedstrom
PISCATAQUIS COUNTY ICE ARENA — The Piscataquis County Ice Arena being built on West Main Street in Dover-Foxcroft is scheduled to open in early August with a ribbon-cutting ceremony part of Foxcroft Academy’s annual Alumni Weekend and the inaugural contest set to be the annual Pony alumni ice hockey game. The $5.5 million project is being funded by the Libra Foundation, and the arena will be managed day-to-day by Foxcroft Academy.
“We have been working all winter long to make sure this project and the summertime proposed opening of the building stays on schedule,” said Andrew Jacobs, director of the PCIA. “Our contractors and workers are all putting in a lot of time because they know this project is a big one for the community.”
Once finished, the building will hold a full sheet of ice for skating, hockey and other ice-related sports and activities. It will also have locker rooms, seating for 250-300 fans, a concession area, meeting space and a pro shop.
“We’ve been over the plans so many times and now, it’s really starting to take shape. The underground plumbing is in place, interior walls are starting to be erected, the elevator shaft is going up, and the project looks more complete with every passing day,” said Jacobs. “Once it’s finished, this will be a building to be proud of.”
When the PCIA is completed, Foxcroft Academy will take over managing the day to day operations of the facility. “We are ready for this and we are extremely excited to have the PCIA in our backyard,” said Foxcroft Academy Head of School Arnold Shorey. “Our building and grounds committee just toured the site, and there were a lot of smiling faces. We have a lot to get ready for, but we are certainly going to manage this facility with the communities’ best interests in mind.”
Foxcroft Academy plans to hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the PCIA on Sunday, Aug. 4 at 11 a.m., as part of 2019 FA Alumni Weekend celebration. The Foxcroft Academy alumni ice hockey game is planned to be the first official game on the new frozen surface.
“We can’t wait to see all of our former hockey alumni come back and play for the maroon and white again, this time in Dover-Foxcroft,” said Shorey. “It’s all part of the ongoing process to bring ice sports back to Foxcroft Academy and the surrounding area. With all that is happening in the area, it’s just a good time to live in Piscataquis County, something that we’ve been waiting to hear for years.”