While Jack Murdock’s passion for flying and technology are well known, not many people know he was also a whiz on the ice. Throughout his life, Jack was a passionate skater and considered time on the ice his favorite way to stay in shape. While the Murdock Trust regularly funds a wide variety of projects across the Northwest, it is always special when we have the opportunity to fund an effort that has a personal connection to our benefactor. That’s why we were so pleased to partner with the Frontier Ice Arena in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho.
A central hub for hundreds of families in the region that serves skaters of all ages and abilities, the Frontier Ice Arena hosts year-round classes, hockey leagues and fundraisers for community members. Unfortunately, the beloved space was forced to close its doors in 2008 when a pileup of snow and ice caused the roof to collapse.
Driven by the passion of dedicated volunteers, the nonprofit set to work rebuilding the entire arena. Financial support via a Murdock Trust grant helped to complete the renovation project. Rather than simply restore the existing building, volunteers designed a modern space that could grow with the community into the foreseeable future.
The new arena offers increased accessibility to a wider range of skaters, an enclosed viewing space for families and fans who want to keep warm, and it sets the stage for future expansion and a second, full-sized rink in the coming years. The Murdock Trust staff got an up-close view of the new space during a recent visit to the Idaho area. We are incredibly grateful to groups like the Frontier Ice Arena team that support physical fitness and youth education and development. Thank you for all you do to support the Coeur D’Alene community.
