Laurium’s George Gipp Ice Arena moves one step closer to modern ice condensers. Yesterday Lauirum Village Manager Ian Lewis announced via Facebook the village council has selected a bid for the area revitalization project’s phase one installation.
So after phase one is complete phase two, we’re going to start reviewing the boards and glass of the ice arena. We’ve reached out to a couple of local partners or partners that have worked with the village before and other communities and we’ll start seeking fundraising for the boards and glass. I would expect that that project will likely take a year or two before we fundraise fully for that. – Ian Lewis, Village Manager, Laurium
Throughout the year the George Gipp Ice Arena hosts roller skating and plenty of frozen activities in the winter. The arena sits at the end of the George Gipp Recreation Area. In recent years the village has gained access to grants to fund projects in the park. Including plans for a splash pad coming in the summer.
For example, when the Daniel Park music series starts back up, that space during summertime is a backup for the concert series when the weather takes a turn. This year, I hope to open up the ice arena or the GIP area to maybe even have pickleball inside the ice arena or some other kind of item where we need to start utilizing the space during the summer just as much as winter. And I think the residents are going to like what they see regarding the space this summer. It truly is a community hub that brings everyone together. The Youth Little League takes pictures down there for the beginning of their season. So it truly is the hub of our community. – Ian Lewis, Village Manager, Laurium
Lewis thanked numerous supporters of skating, hockey, and Laurium’s Center for Community, including the Copper Shores Community Health Foundation, Calumet Hockey Association, and individual donors, such as Andy Storm.
It just shows the level of importance skating and hockey play in the community and the Copper Country. Hockey in the Upper Peninsula. And providing opportunities to youth and adults. Winters can get long, and having somewhere everyone can hang out, and have a community third space, is essential. And I think that everyone has started to recognize that. – Ian Lewis, Village Manager, Laurium
At Game Two of the 2025 Gibson Cup, Storm announced a 75,000-dollar donation to the project in honor of his longtime friend Al Ayotte. On August 2nd the village will honor Ayotte as a lifelong community volunteer by establishing the arena’s warming area as the Allen Ayotte Warming Area. Learn more about the George Gipp Revitalization project and fundraising opportunities online.
