By Christine Simkins

HYDE PARK -- The proposed Bridgerland Community Ice Arena needs the community's financial support, and soon.

The BCIA is a nonprofit organization with some of its trustees Hyde Park residents. The arena is in jeopardy due to inadequate funding. The indoor, year-round ice arena is scheduled to break ground in Hyde Park in 2000.

The George S. and Dolores Dore Eccles Foundation along with Cache County have pledged $1.5 million, which will be withdrawn from the project unless an additional $2.5 million is committed by Dec. 31.

The donated funds cover about half of the amount needed for the Olympic-sized ice sheet with a seating capacity of 2,000.

"I would like to see the ice rink come to the Cache Valley," said Brian Jensen. "It would be a great place for families and could draw some great events."

The group is asking for donations or for volunteers to donate some of their time to help with the project. BCIA organizers are asking for a few more people to help make sure every Hyde Park resident has the opportunity to talk to an ice arena representative before December.

"It will be a fun way to say hello your neighbors and guarantee the ice arena will be built as planned, not scaled down to fit a smaller budget," said Roxanne Jackman. "The current funding is sufficient to build a 200-seat metal building."

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