History, Structure, and Mission of Union Arena
Union Arena Community Center is a reality today for the entire community to enjoy, thanks to the efforts and commitment of countless families over the years. Work was started towards an arena back in the 1980's and picked up steam in the early 1990's with the rapid explosion and success of youth hockey in Woodstock.
After several attempts at a number of different locations, the onset of a new millennium brought the focus for a combination indoor ice rink and field house back to the grounds of the Woodstock Union High School (WUHS). An independent nonprofit, called Union Arena,Inc, formalized itself as a 501(c)3 and began the process to design and fund Union Arena. After a couple years of hard work to secure private funding for the facility (no tax money was used to pay for the cost of construction, nor is any tax money be used to cover operational expenses), construction began in the summer of 2003 and the building opened in November.
Upon completion, the building was donated to the Woodstock Union High School. Union Arena, Inc and WUHS signed a management contract, under which Union Arena, Inc. is charged with the task of operating and managing the facility. The contract outlines certain reserved uses for the school, including having it ready to function as a field house by the first day of Spring sports practices in late march, priority scheduling, and terms and conditions. It was also agreed that the school would not be charged for athletic and academic programs conducted by WUHS during the normal operating school year. In 2004-2006, the school used over 300 hours for Physical Education, Spring practices, and graduation. In addition, the Boys and Girls Varsity Ice Hockey teams use the Arena extensively.
Today, a Board of Directors representing the community oversees the operations of Union Arena.
Description and mission of the organization:
Union Arena, Inc., a non-profit organization, is raising $4.5 million to build the first multi-purpose, four-season community cultural and athletic facility for the region. The mission is to offer affordable and accessible healthy activities for all families in the region. By providing this versatile facility, many more children (and families) will engage in sports, cultural events, and community gatherings than ever before. Many families cannot afford the time involved and high cost of transporting their children to sports practices at arenas 25 miles away in New Hampshire. As a result, there is a whole population of area children who do not participate in school sports programs. Union Arena will be a particularly vital facility in helping these economically disadvantaged children, their families and the community.
Cultural activities will include theatre festivals, school graduations, art shows, craft fairs, antique shows, concerts, pet and agriculture shows, and other full community gatherings. Other local non-profit educational, health, and arts organizations will use the facility as a base for community events and fundraising.
Athletic activities will include five months of winter ice for adult and youth ice hockey; figure skating and public skating; spring and fall indoor sports including field hockey, soccer, baseball and lacrosse (inclement weather in Vermont often forces these sports indoors during fall and spring months); and senior, pre-school and handicapped exercise programs in all seasons.
In sum, it will become a safe and supervised community gathering spot for all ages, year-round.
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Union Arena Community Center is on the property of Woodstock Union Middle and High Schools and as such the use of alcohol, tobacco products and drugs is prohibited.
Violators of this policy will be removed from the property. |
