Prairie Lakes Ice Arena wins APWA Small Cities/Rural Communities Project of the Year Award

The Prairie Lakes Ice Arena in Watertown was recognized by the American Public Works Association (APWA) as the Small Cities/Rural Communities Public Works Project of the Year in the Structures category for 2025, city staff told the Watertown City Council.

The award, city engineer Justin Peterson said, was announced during National Public Works Week and highlights the work of the city’s public works staff and a broad group of community partners. "This week is public works week," Peterson said during a presentation to the council.

The recognition honors the arena’s design, construction and community support. Laura Moore, executive assistant in the public works department who compiled the application, said the city was notified in April that the project won and that the award will be presented at the APWA national conference in August. "We were actually notified back in April that we got this award," Moore told the council.

Moore and Peterson credited the project team and local fundraising. City materials and speakers noted that community fundraising and private donations were central to building the $10,000,000 facility and that a donor wall at the arena lists private supporters. The application and presentation also highlighted energy-efficiency measures: Peterson and Moore said a rebate program tied to the arena’s systems produced more than $50,000 in funding to offset costs.

Kurt Pepple, a South Dakota chapter representative and APWA delegate, told the council the award recognizes public works projects that demonstrate teamwork and innovation. "Congratulate the city of Watertown again on this project," Pepple said.

Project partners and consultants were named in the presentation: design team JLG, contractor RJM, owner’s representative Tegra, and the Build It Now fundraising committee. Architect Tom Betty, who joined the meeting remotely, said the arena ranks among his top projects and praised the community’s engagement. "This is one of those projects that's in the top 5," Betty said.

Council members praised the project as a community asset during a brief Q&A after the presentation. Councilman Tupper recalled early decisions to order materials ahead of schedule during the COVID pandemic to keep the project on track, and Councilman Danforth said the arena has brought visitors from other communities to Watertown.

The presentation closed with the council and members of the Build It Now committee assembling for a commemorative photograph; Moore said the city will add the APWA plaque and the award text to the donor wall at the arena.

No formal council action was required; the item was presented for recognition and public record.