Red Deerians can take home a piece of local sporting history at a garage sale Saturday.
Everything from score clocks and hockey nets to display cases and chairs from the old Kinex Arena will be up for grabs at the sale running 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the arena behind Servus Arena downtown. There will also be puck boards, shelving units, appliances and other items that can be carried out the door available.
Unfortunately, you'll be out of luck if you have dreams of outfitting your backyard rink or basement man cave with rink boards and glass. Those, along with other larger items, such as dehumidifiers were sold to other Alberta communities to live on in their arenas.
Starting as a retro-fitted barn 56 years ago, Kinex developed a reputation for having the best ice in Red Deer in its heyday.
It was the failing mechanical system that caused city officials to decide to close the sports facility, rather than spending the $8 million or more dollars needed to keep it going.
The Kinex was effectively replaced by the twinned ice rink at the G.H. Dawe Centre.
“It’s bittersweet for our team and our community to say goodbye to such a prominent recreation facility, but it has reached the end of its lifespan,” said city facilities and asset management superintendent Curtis Martinek.
“Demolition will begin later this summer and be completed by August. Prior to any actual demo, all hazardous materials need to be removed and disposed of safely and in accordance with all regulations."
The land on which the facility currently sits will become additional green space in Barret Park. The parking lot can be used by park visitors and as overflow parking for Servus Arena and Pidherney Centre.
All funds generated through the garage sale will go back into Recreation’s general revenue account.