NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. -- The ribbon was cut Thursday on the newly-renovated Hyde Park Ice Pavillion on Robbins Drive in Niagara Falls.
The rink has undergone four phases of improvements over the last six years to bring it up to date. New locker rooms, ice refrigeration systems and a new bar and tapas lounge are part of the $9 million project.
The two-rink facility is home to both Grand Island and Niagara Falls high schools as well as several tournaments throughout the year.
"It's particularly important for us in Niagara Falls because we have a large stock of hotel rooms here that are vacant, many of them through much of the winter, so we're always looking for new ways to bring people here to visit. Not just to stay in our hotels, but to eat in our restaurants," said Mayor Paul Dyster, D-Niagara Falls.
The pavillion is still scheduled to receive improvements in paving, landscaping and outside lighting before completion.