When the City of Bloomington opened the Bloomington Community Ice Garden, 3600 W. 98th St., in 1970, the facility had just one sheet of ice. Construction began in 1969 and the building was finished the following March. The new arena gave residents a place to skate close to home and quickly became a popular spot for lessons and hockey.
As Bloomington grew so did the need for more ice time. A second rink opened in 1975. A third rink followed in 1993 and was built to Olympic size, which helped attract larger events and made the Ice Garden a regular stop for teams and tournaments from across the region.
For many families the Ice Garden became a place to learn to skate, cheer on local teams and gather during Minnesota winters. Today, as the renovated facility enters its next chapter, its beginning as a single rink remains an important part of Bloomington history.
Source: Vintage MN Hockey
