RUMFORD – Five years of fundraising and planning have finally resulted in the construction of a 38- by 54-foot storage garage for the Polar Bears Snowmobile Club.

“We hope to have it closed in by the time the snow flies,” said Tom Reed, a trailmaster for the club and one of about a dozen club members who regularly volunteer to build the structure on about two acres of town land near the public boat launch. The club has a 99-year lease to use the property.

The garage will house the club’s $130,000 groomer, small sleds, pole saws and other equipment used to maintain more than 100 miles of town snowmobile trails.

Trailmaster Gene Knox said the maintenance equipment is scattered in barns and garages of many of the club’s members. Once the garage is completed, the equipment will be under one roof.

Reed said the club looked at other sites before settling on the lot near the Androscoggin River above the floodplain. The snowmobile trail is just a short distance from the garage and the garage is just off Route 2 west of town.

Knox said the club was authorized to spend up to $50,000 to build the garage, but hopes the entire amount won’t be needed since all the labor is volunteer.

“We needed to get all the stuff in one place,” Knox said.

Reed said the garage will be heated so club members can work on equipment.

“The location is really convenient,” he said.