Ironhide Equipment Donates Bobcat Equipment to Unique Community Project

When Ironhide Equipment, a Grand Forks, North Dakota-based dealership, was approached with a unique community involvement opportunity, they were eager to help out. They provided Bobcat equipment for a one-of-a-kind Riverbend Skate Path in nearby Warroad, Minnesota.

Warroad is nicknamed the original “Hockeytown USA,” so it was a fitting decision when a few community members got together to connect their backyard skating rinks on the river, creating a unique, interconnected skating path along the Warroad River. The river path, which is now 2 ½ miles long, hosts hockey, ice skating, curling and other winter activities.

As the project expanded, volunteers realized they needed a more efficient way to keep the ice clear for the growing number of visiting skaters. They found just what they needed after reaching out to the staff at Ironhide Equipment in Grand Forks. 

“The organizers of the skate path needed equipment to broom off the snow and clear the path for the activities,” said Travis Johnson, sales manager at Ironhide Equipment. “We were happy to serve the community and help get their project running smoothly.” 

Ironhide donated a Toolcat™ 5600 utility work machine with an 84-inch angle broom attachment. 

“We knew a Toolcat utility work machine would be perfect for this,” Johnson said. “Their other options for snow removal were a utility vehicle with an angle blade or a skid-steer loader, but those would get too heavy.”

The Toolcat utility work machine is a popular machine for municipalities and specialty grounds maintenance uses. The angle broom attachment makes it easy to clear snow in a quick and efficient manner, which is just what the Riverbend Skate Path needed. 

“We are happy to help out communities whenever we can,” Johnson said. “This project is such a great way to support the Warroad community and we love what it stands for – getting kids outside, community interaction and making the most of Midwest winters.”