The people in the New Prague area had a strong commitment to building an area Community Center with an ice arena as the first phase of the project. The population growth in our area was one of the highest for small towns in Minnesota. Participation in ice skating sports for boys and girls was growing. The availability of ice rental time had dramatically diminished to a point of major concern for the New Prague Hockey Association and High School teams. Space for indoor recreational, athletic, and community activities was in high demand. The need for a multiple use facility was becoming a high priority.