Wasilla sports arena opens

WASILLA -- Anyone who's anyone in the city of Wasilla flocked to the new Multi-Use Sports Complex last weekend to see its new, glossy doors, clean floors and rafters, newly painted ice and turf lines, and gleaming Plexiglas.

"It's overwhelming," said Bruce Urban, director of the project, of the public support at Saturday's opening. "We hoped to have a good turnout, but this is more than we ever could have anticipated."

Visitors enjoyed hockey, soccer and figure skating displays put on by Valley children, a climbing wall provided by Cliff Hangers, free skating from 6 p.m. onward, and music from Just Playin' Jazz. Later, the attendees feasted upon a massive cake provided by Verda's Cakes and Things, perhaps 25 feet square and comprising four separate flavors.

The heart of the event, however, was a dedication ceremony performed by Wasilla Mayor Dianne Keller, former Mayor Sarah Palin, Dr. Curt Menard and Pastor Stan Tucker.

"I am pleased and proud to be the manager of this spectacular facility," said Urban in his introduction.

Keller was exuberant at the dedication. "This is a great day for the city of Wasilla," she said. Keller also joined the visitors packing the complex's new concrete bleachers in welcoming Sen. Lyda Green, who had come to Wasilla specifically for the opening.

Keller emphasized that work on the complex was ongoing, and that the city still hoped to add a central kitchen and emergency generators to encourage its development as an emergency center.

Keller gave a large part of the credit for the inception of the complex and its speedy construction to former Wasilla mayor Sarah Palin.

"This would not be possible if it weren't for the vision of Mayor Palin," said Keller, who also noted that, due to Palin's efforts, a traffic light would be installed this summer to relieve congestion at the intersection of Church Road and the Parks Highway.

Palin had her own warm words for the occasion, saying that the opening represented the "can-do spirit of Wasilla." She also commented on how the complex would encourage both commercial and community development within the city, which received her highest praise. "There is no better community on earth," she said.

Palin took special care to thank Curt Menard and his family for their contribution to the growth of the city. The ice rink bears the name of Curt Menard Jr., a community leader and proponent of Valley sports, especially hockey. Menard died Aug. 9, 2001, in a small plane crash in Palmer, but his memory lives on in the Curtis C. Menard II Memorial Ice Arena.

"Forever, this will be a reminder of Curtis and what he stood for," Palin said.

The dedication also included the presentation of colors by Boy Scout Troop 300, the singing of the national anthem by Wasilla High School's Rebecca Schmelz, and an invocation by Pastor Stan Tucker.

Everyone in attendance had fond words of congratulations and hope for the future of the new center. The most succinct praise came, however, from Urban himself, who positively glowed at the public's reception. "All I've seen are smiling faces." he said.

Contact Daniel Spoth at daniel.spoth@frontiersman.com.