EAST BRUNSWICK - It's been years in the making, but the new state-of-the-art East Brunswick Ice Arena is on track to open in 2026.
A groundbreaking was held Friday at the Arena Drive site, behind Lowe's on Route 18 and the new Legacy Place development off Tices Lane.
The ice rink is expected to be completed in about 18 months, Mayor Brad Cohen said.
"This is huge for us," said South River teacher Travis Beni, head coach of CBR (Chargers, Bears, Rams) Ice Hockey team - made up of high schoolers from East Brunswick, Spotswood and South River.
"Right now we play out of the ProSkate rink in South Brunswick. Having this right in our backyard will be excellent for our high school team, but even more important is it will have a youth program right in town," Beni continued. Down the road you'll have a bunch of kids playing in town who will eventually be on the high school team."
Cohen was joined at the event by retired NJ Devils player Ken Daneyko; Township Council members Kevin McEvoy, Dana Winston, and Dana Zimbicki; Assemblyman Sterley Stanley (D-District 18); Middlesex County Clerk Nancy Pinkin; and Superintendent of Schools Victor Valeski. Others in attendance included township Director of Planning and Engineering Keith Kipp, township Director of Recreation and Parks Michael Reissner and members of the CBR team.
Cohen spoke about the importance of youth sports, explaining they teach life skills that "you can't get by just chomping away at a computer or standing behind a cell phone," the mayor said.
The facility will also include more than 5,000 square feet of community space, he said.
"The sky's the limit," the mayor said.
Cohen said the facility will also offer employment opportunities. He said the construction already provides jobs.
"One of the things we've made clear from the very beginning was our alignment with organized labor and our support of our unions," Cohen said.
The new facility will also provide opportunities for special needs communities and be an economic driver for the township, the mayor said.
Cohen thanked everyone involved in the project.
Last summer, the Township Council approved a $40.3 million bond to fund the project at the old Wonder Bread site. The total project cost is approximately $53 million, but that figure is reduced by $10 million for site improvements and the cost of the land (compliments of Garden Homes Development, the developer of Legacy Place ) and another $3 million received from a state grant .
McEvoy said the complex would not be possible without "all of us working together."
"It will allow for new methods of recreation and competitive competition," he said.
"I know the Devils," Daneyko said. "It's always been a priority to really help youth hockey grow throughout the state. I can tell everybody involved has the right idea of what this is all about and it's about the kids for me. It always has been."
More: Two new restaurants coming to Route 18 in East Brunswick
"Today is a very great day for East Brunswick," said Stanley, a former member of the East Brunswick Township Council.
He recalled how seven years ago the area was "blighted."
He said current and future generations of youth in East Brunswick and the surrounding towns will be able to use the facility.
"Who knows. We might have some future NHL players coming out of here, so we'll see what happens," he said.
Email: sloyer@gannettnj.com
Susan Loyer covers Middlesex County and more for MyCentralJersey.com. To get unlimited access to her work, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: East Brunswick begins work on ice rink. Here's when it will be done
Local News
