Dryden group raising money for arena repairs the city can't afford

A group calling itself DrydenRecreation Extension and Modification (DREAM)wants to refurbishthe 40-year-oldDryden, Ont.,arena and it wants to start by improving accessibility and building women's change rooms.

DREAM knows that the city can't afford to upgrade the arena itself, so members decided a while ago to do it themselves, the group's co-chair, Marnie Oliphant, told CBC News.

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Thearena was built in 1979, and maintenance has been lacking for the past decade, Oliphant said.

She called the facility a cornerstone of the community.

"Every weekend in the winterthere's a tournament running, which brings in business for hotels [and]restaurants," Oliphantsaid.

"It keeps our kids active in our community. It's not only our kids, we have seniors that curl."

DREAM has raised $50,000of its $500,000goal so far.

It also received a grant of $50,000 to help make the bathrooms in the arena lobby wheelchairaccessible and to make it possible for people with mobility issues to access the ice surface area,Oliphantsaid.

In addition to needing the accessibility upgrades, the arenaneedsmorechange rooms, specifically for women,Oliphantsaid, because somefemale hockey playersare forced to changeafter gamesin a closet.

DREAM will hold a major fundraiser July 26 featuring hockey brothersChris and Sean Pronger and American Hockey League coach Bruce Ramsey.