By Dan Spalding
InkFreeNews

WARSAW – The town of Winona Lake is moving forward with plans for a public ice rink and will have $1.5 million to use from K21 Foundation.

The announcement was made Wednesday, Aug. 19, by K21.

Details about the rink have not been released, but K21 officials praised the Winona Lake plan.

K21 had offered $1 million 11 months ago to any community in the central part of Kosciusko (essentially either Winona Lake or Warsaw) that could provide a detailed plan for an ice rink, which has been proposed repeatedly over the past two decades.

K21’s board of directors recently approved a request by the town for the development of an ice rink pavilion. “When completed, it will become a wintertime destination for both residents of Kosciusko County and the region,” K21 said in its announcement.

K21 added,  the directors “were so impressed and confident with the plan that was presented that they approved an additional $500,000 above the original pledge, for a total of $1.5 million grant.”

“A condition of our pledge was that it would be located in the central part of the county, so we see Winona Lake as a great location for an ice rink,” said K21 Board Chairman Andrew Grossnickle. “Winona Lake continues to pursue amenities and opportunities to encourage an active and healthy life for people in the community and around Kosciusko County. An ice rink will be an amazing addition in providing year-round activities for all ages. We look forward to partnering with the town to help bring this decades-long dream to a reality.”

The city of Warsaw had been considering a proposal, possibly at Center Lake. One plan had it located near the pavilion, but officials concluded it would take away too much green space near the beach.

The K21 news release indicated details would be released soon.