It was icing on the cake when the Newark City Council decided to renovate the Newark Ice Arena in 2005.

Six months later, nearly $1.2 million in cash in largely private donations produced a multi-use, multi-season facility for hockey, figure skating and curling. The name was changed in 2006 from the Newark Ice Arena to the Lou and Gib Reese Ice Arena because of the large donation made by the Reese family to the renovation effort.

Skating lessons also are offered at the facility, and it is available to rent for corporate outings, family reunions and other functions.