Renovations on tap this year for Bode Ice Arena, starting with new roof
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- Parks officials are set to kick off the next step of a multi-million dollar renovation effort for the 50-year old Bode Ice Arena, starting from top to bottom.
A $588,000 roof and insulation replacement project, funded by Parks Sales Tax funds, is currently on schedule to begin in late November or early December at the popular facility, home for many ice skaters, hockey clubs and community activities.
Opened in 1975, the current roof has numerous areas with large holes and exposed insulation, causing leaks and other challenges for the 30,000-square-foot facility where climate controlled temperatures are critical.
"If we have the air temperature too high, the surface of the ice tends to want to sweat. It's not really melting, but it'll want to sweat," said Jeff Atkins, St. Joseph Parks and Recreation Director. "Trying to control the humidity in here is a delicate balance and keeping the weather outside is a must. We'll get all that addressed at the same time."
In other cases, condensation can build up in the rafters and drip onto the ice, issues he and the department are eager to address with funding from the voter-approved Parks Sales Tax.
The project was initially scheduled as one of the last to occur around 2030, but recent increases in leakage and reshuffling of other projects allowed them to move it up without issue.
"Not only will we be getting a new roof, we'll be getting an extra layer of insulation too. The (lobby) building will get an entire new roof. The (arena) will be an overlay," Atkins said.
He said residents and users will still be able to access the arena during normal hours once construction begins. Construction is expected to last through the winter and conclude next spring.
With huge interior upgrades planned for the facility in either 2027 or 2028, including $4.4 million for a brand new ice arena floor and other improvements, Atkins said the timing made sense to carry out roof repairs in advance of both projects.
"This is the original floor has been here for 50 years now, and they've only got about a 25 to 30-year lifespan. So we've we've been on borrowed time," Atkins said. "When the building is shut down for those two future remodels, we're going to have a good secure roof on top of them because you hate to come in and do any, renovation work with a leaky roof."
Unlike the roof replacement project, larger interior upgrades in the future will require the arena to be closed to the public. In addition to St. Joseph, the facility sees users from cities like Kansas City and Des Moines.
In a typical year, over 115,000 people visit the ice arena between July and May, according to city data.
"It's a very popular facility, not only just to our citizens in Saint Joe," Atkins said. “It's just one of the many, many things that drastically needed attention. And without the parks tax, we would still be struggling trying to figure out how are we going to take care of these structures."
