Now that the land is secured, the natural focus turns to what comes next. The road to The Forge groundbreaking runs through a clear set of stages, and each one moves Central Oregon’s first year-round ice rink closer to opening day. Here’s our roadmap, from final design and permitting to the day we turn the first shovel.

A Staged Plan for The Forge Groundbreaking

Every phase on the way to The Forge groundbreaking has its place. Big builds move in order: design, approvals, site preparation, then construction. Each phase builds on the one before it, which protects both the timeline and the budget.

We are currently in the permitting phase, with the overall path shaped around roughly one year of approvals followed by about two years of construction. Each stage is scoped so the whole community can see the road ahead. We will share firm dates as they lock in. Transparency has carried this project from the start, and it will carry it through the build. Naming the steps also lets supporters see exactly where their dollars go and what each milestone unlocks.

Final Design and Engineering

First comes the detailed work that turns renderings into buildable plans. Architects and engineers finalize every specification, from the ice systems and dasher boards to the lodge and mechanical rooms. Nothing gets built until the drawings are complete and correct.

This stage is where a strong concept becomes a construction-ready design. Careful work now prevents costly changes later, which matters even more for a debt-free project. For The Forge, this stage is already behind us. The design and engineering work is complete, which is what allowed us to move confidently into permitting.  

Permitting and Approvals

Every build in town goes through local review, and The Forge is no exception. The plans move through the City of Bend permitting(opens in new tab) process, which checks them against code before any work can begin. It is a careful step by design.

Permitting also gives the community a window to weigh in, which is healthy for a facility meant to serve everyone. We expect this stage to take about one year, and we will share progress as approvals move through review.

Groundbreaking and Construction

Once approvals land, the shovels come out. Groundbreaking marks the shift from planning to building, and it is the moment this community has worked toward. We intend to celebrate it together—more details on that to come.

From there, construction moves in phases: site work and grading, then the foundation, the structure, the building systems, and finally the ice itself. Each phase has its own crews, inspections, and milestones, and we will document the build as it rises. Expect regular photo updates and a few moments worth marking together, from the first shovel to the first sheet of ice.

Our current target for groundbreaking is late 2027 or early 2028, with the full build estimated at about two years.

Following the Plan, Step by Step

A clear sequence is more than a schedule. It is a promise supporters can hold us to. Every phase moves the vision closer to reality as the space takes shape. Keep an eye out for updates and follow the road to The Forge groundbreaking, milestone by milestone.