Watertown Prairie Lakes Ice Arena Earns National Infrastructure Spotlight on APWA Roadshow

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - National infrastructure leaders gathered at the Prairie Lakes Ice Arena on Wednesday as the facility became the latest stop on the Engineering & Public Works Roadshow, a national initiative spotlighting exemplary public infrastructure projects.

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Representatives from the American Public Works Association (APWA), the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC), and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) joined Watertown municipal officials and community partners to recognize the $36.5 million arena. The facility, which opened following nearly two decades of planning, was previously named an APWA Top Project of 2025 and stands as one of only four projects featured on the national Roadshow tour this year.

The Roadshow highlights projects that demonstrate high-level collaboration between municipal officials, engineers, private industry, and local citizens.

“The ice arena had long been identified as a need in Watertown, which explains why thousands of people donated time and money to see this project to completion,” Watertown Mayor Ried Holien said during the presentation. “It is a beautiful and functional building, and it’s incredible to see how the experts at APWA also recognize how well the project was envisioned and executed.”

The project was propelled by the local “Build It Now” fundraising campaign, which generated $10 million in private contributions from local businesses, organizations, and residents. The effort brought together local user groups—including the Watertown Hockey Association and the Watertown Figure Skating Club—to support expanding local recreation from a single ice sheet to a modern two-sheet venue.

Former Watertown Public Works Director Heath Von Eye, representing APWA, served as emcee for the event. Von Eye noted that the facility earned national honors in the “Structure of the Year for Small Communities” category amidst competing submittals from across the United States.

During the ceremony, Roadshow organizers presented recognition plaques to key local leaders who guided the project through design, fundraising, construction, and daily operations. Honorees included Watertown City Engineer Justin Petersen, City Attorney Lisa Carrico, campaign leader Jodi Driscoll, and former Arena Superintendent Scott Gloe.

Speakers throughout the afternoon emphasized both the immediate local benefits and the broader impact of public infrastructure investment. Visiting representatives noted that facilities like the Prairie Lakes Ice Arena strengthen local economies by attracting regional tournaments and events—such as the Watertown Shamrocks junior hockey team—while improving quality of life and encouraging future generations to consider careers in engineering and public service.

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