Blackfalds Town Council is excited to see a user group taking ownership to raise capital for a second ice surface.

The Dual Ice Development Society is working to raise a million dollars to cover the current outdoor rink next to the multi-plex, to create a twin arena, in response to a shortage of ice time.

Mayor Melodie Stol says their solution definitely has potential.

"The current outdoor rink is actually already attatched underground to our arena. There are brine lines, it is attatched to our ice plant. So the ice that's in our outdoor rink is actually maintained by our ice plant. So the ability to build a roof or some kind of structure to make it an indoor surface, the potential is absolutely there."

Stol says the Town has included a second ice surface in their long range capital planning process and there's no question there's a need for more ice time.

"With Blackfalds growth rate, you've seen the growth in every minor sport. That's the same for hockey, figure skating, lacrosse, and big ice users in the community. So they're just seeing the growth within their programs, and you know there's only so much ice time available. You can't run the programs during school hours, so there's always high competition for that ice time. I think we're the only community our size that has one only one sheet of ice."

Council has endorsed administration to bring forward renderings of a twin arena with a budget of $10,000 that the DIDS group could then show to potential donors.

The Town provided renderings for the Field House Society to assist with their fundraising initiatives for the Abbey Centre, where the group successfully raised $1.7 million.