Press Release | Office of the Mayor | Westland Cuts the Ribbon on Improvements to Mike Modano Ice Arena

For Immediate Release | Official Press Release

PRESS RELEASE

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR

36300 Warren Road | Westland, Michigan | 48185

Office 734.467.3200 | Fax 734.422.1230

WWW.CITYOFWESTLAND.COM

Westland Cuts the Ribbon on Improvements to Mike Modano Ice Arena

Westland - On February 22, the ribbon was officially cut to celebrate the recent improvements to the Mike Modano Ice Arena.

The improvements to the ice arena this year total $1 million. The investment provided 4 new modern locker rooms. The addition of a community room, which will be available to rent, was also a part of the project.

Additional improvements included in the project were 2 purified water fountains that have the ability to fill thousands of water bottles, the re-purposing of the original locker rooms into coach/referee rooms equipped with new flooring, doors and bathroom features and a storage facility for an additional Zamboni.

In the past 8 years, improvements to the ice arena have totaled $1,528,000 with funding coming from federal and state grants along with over $150,000 raised from Mayor Wild's annual charity hockey game and donations from the Mike Modano Foundation. Previous improvements included new, energy efficient compressors, infrared heaters above the bleachers, free WiFi throughout the arena, new LED light fixtures and improved concessions.

Tracey Posey, President of the Westland Hockey Association and Figure Skating Director Julie Marchand were both in attendance for the ribbon cutting and expressed their excitement and gratitude for the city's continued commitment to the Mike Modano Ice Arena on behalf of their organizations.

"The Mike Modano Ice Arena is an important asset in Westland's Parks and Recreation portfolio," commented Mayor Wild. "It provides a place for residents of all ages to engage in fun, physical activity year-round and these improvements will serve its current users and attract new customers to the rink."

For more information, please call Aubrey Berman at (734)467-3200

Westland, Michigan is the state's 10th largest municipality, with a population of over 84,000 people who exhibit a great deal of pride in their All-American City. Westland has a thriving business community along with beautiful residential areas. The citizens enjoy a wide array of amenities and a quality of life that is second to none.

In 2014, Westland was rated as one of 24/7 Wall Street's America's Best 50 Cities to Live, offering residents and visitors an ideal blend of single-family affordable homes, apartments and condominiums, great schools, and access to numerous outdoor activities. Public safety is delivered by full-service, professional law enforcement and firefighting personnel. Westland Police Department, whose motto is protect and serve, provides emergency dispatch services to four cities and over 100,000 residents; the Westland Fire Department are licensed paramedics who responded to over 9,000 calls for service last year, about 85% being medical based. They never forget their mission of preserving life and property.

Westland is well-known as the premier destination for shopping and dining in Wayne County with hundreds if shops and restaurants anchored by the Westland Shopping Center, on of the country's original four regional malls.

Infinite opportunities are available in Westland for the recreation aficionado including, more that 40 parks and 1,500 acres of trails, a 9-hole golf course, hockey arena, athletic fields, playscapes, a Farmers and Artisans Market and more. One of Michigan's most environmentally friendly cities, Westland has a progressive curbside recycling program with one of the highest participation rates in the nation and the City is raising the bar for cultural experiences with the placement of public art throughout the City.

The City is served by two public school districts; Wayne-Westland Community Schools serving 12,000 youth was recently named one of the Best School in Michigan by WXYZ-TV and is the proud recipient of 14 Golden Apple and two Michigan Blue Ribbon Exemplary School Awards. Livonia Public Schools, educating nearly 15,000 students, is proud of their MEAP/MME scores that exceed state averages and the District has also earned Golden Apple and Michigan Blue Ribbon Exemplary School Awards.

The City provides competitive incentives for those who are interested in investing in Westland, making it one of the hottest investment markets in the region. Our Fast-Track to Business Team, which consists of key decision makers who work diligently on a development plan will "cut the red tape" and expedite the approval process for new business development.