The long-anticipated Koko Platz Community Rec Centre is nearing completion and excitement is building among both organizers and community members.
"We're starting to see some great progress," said Tanner Waldvogel, one of the directors for the KoKo Platz Community Club.
"They're starting to get some drywall up inside… it's starting to actually look like the hall we envisioned."
With just a few more months to go, the newly renovated space is nearly ready to open its doors to the public.
Last week, some club members, alongside city representatives, took a walkthrough of the space.
"The city has been helping us immensely on this project," Waldvogel said. "It was good to be able to see what we envision and what we've been working so hard for come together."
To help push the project over the finish line, the club is hosting a fundraising social on May 3 at the Meyers Norris Penny Exhibition building on the island.
"We're trying to get one last ticket fundraising event to try and get a little bit more money to complete the project," Waldvogel explained. One of the next goals is to build a garage for storage and operations.
Community support has already made a huge impact. Local businesses have stepped up in a big way, sponsoring different parts of the building.
"The rink portion is sponsored by Richardson Milling," Waldvogel said, adding that the company provided a “very generous donation” and secured naming rights to the rink.
Other areas, including the hall and the changing room, also have dedicated sponsors.
"Local businesses have definitely stepped up, as they always do in our community, and made this dream a possibility."
As the structure continues to take shape, community excitement is ramping up.
"The excitement is starting to build now that you can see the building take place and we've got the rink in place. A large majority in the area are quite excited for the outdoor rink to be back. It's a good place for kids to go and get some exercise and hang out with their friends."
Tickets for the May 3 social are available through the club's social media accounts.
With community support and dedication, the KoKo Platz Community Club is well on its way to becoming a staple in our community once again.