Organization’s permit for parking lot, hockey rink approved

By John McLoone

The Hastings Planning Commission gave its stamp of approval to an Interim Use Permit for development of a hockey rink and a parking lot for the United Heroes League at the multiuse facility they are developing at 2800 Ravenna Trail.

The city council gave its approval to the request at its meeting Monday night.

Under the permit, development can be done on the parcel, and it can be used prior to final improvements being completed. A similar permit was granted to UHL in 2020 for construction of its “confidence course,” an obstacle course. Many improvements from that permit never came to fruition, however. UHL Director Shane Hudella said that the COVID pandemic brought fundraising for the organization to a screeching halt, but that UHL is going better than ever today.

Hudella gave planners a glimpse into the scope of UHL’s plans to make Hastings home to a variety of events, with a chance even to host Hockey Day Minnesota there.

Hudella said the roots of UHL date to 2008 when he was active duty in the Army. He had conversations with professional athletes interested in making a difference.

“I said, ‘I’ll start a charity,’” he said. “Away we went, and it grew bigger than I ever thought it would. It turned into a national program.”

UHL helps outfit children of Armed Forces members with athletic gear and pays registration fees. It has a presence in 24 major markets nationwide, and its efforts have been honored by the White House.

“We’ve given away in excess of $25 million to military families,” he said.

“I have four boys. It was tough when we had to do military stuff. Sports are a great way to keep them engaged,” said Hudella.

Recently, UHL has sponsored a hockey camp attended by 100 kids, and the organization hosted a camp with Major League baseball players at the stadium of the San Diego Padres.

“We have a number of pro athletes that come out and lift the spirits of military kids and families,” Hudella said. “We love what we do. We’re really excited. We have a growing outdoors program as well, where we do fishing and archery and some other things.”

He said that when they got the initial interim permit, the outdoor confidence course was put in, but other items had to wait for funding.

“With COVID, obviously, our revenue dropped,” he said. “We don’t anticipate that problem now. We’re back doing great financially, doing some massive things. We’re actually having a record year for revenue.”

He said the organization plans big things for Hastings.

“We’re excited. We love Hastings. UHL is going to be here until the end of time, and we look forward to developing some great things on our campus that down the road we can share with our community,” Hudella said.

Hudella said that plans are to blacktop the parking lot, which is being moved further to the east than where it enters the property now, to meet Dakota County specifications.

There will then be a concrete walkway to where the hockey rink will be developed.

Temporary bathrooms will be in use until a future building athletics facility building is developed. The Metropolitan Council wastewater treatment plant is scheduled to be developed nearby, and at that time, the site should have sewer and water available.

Said City Planner Justin Fortney, “They would still be proposing to use temporary bathroom facilities. There’s no city sewer available and water would require a well. The Metro Council is proposing to build a new sewer plant across the highway from there, and at that time, presumably there would be access to sewer.”

Plans submitted as part of the approval show the parking lot flanked by the future athletic facility and athletic fields along Ravenna Trail. The impressive United Heroes League monument that was dedicated on Memorial Day is just off the parking lot, as is the hockey rink.

Planners expressed excitement about the UHL prospects.

“I think it’s so understated what you do out there,” said chair Gino Messina.

Chris Teiken questioned what would happen if the planned development with this permit didn’t occur, and Forney replied, “They have 18 months, and if they complete it in 18 months, the use that is permitted must stop.”

Teiken replied, “I want to make sure 18 months is long enough for them to do what they need to do.”

Hudella indicated that it should be plenty of time.