Budget Discussions Continue
Proposed Roof Over Outdoor Ice Surface A Hot Topic
The proposed roof over the outdoor ice surface at Central Park is once again a hot topic as budget discussions continue. Collingwood Minor Hockey Associaton President Anthony Griffiths has asked council to include the cost of putting a roof over the ice surface in the 2010 budget. It is estimated that the project would bring with it a price tag of close to 900 thousand dollars. Griffiths told council that Collingwood Minor Hockey is facing growing demand for more ice time but is facing the reality that the town has only one indoor ice surface.
Chris McIntyre is a Minor Hockey Parent. McIntyre wrote to encourage council to include the funding in the budget. "As a parent and supporter of Collingwood Minor Hockey I was very pleased two seasons ago when our organization took a proactive approach and committed to helping raise funds to provide a second ice surface in our community. It is something our kids have needed for a long time. I was equally excited to hear that the capital plans for the Department of Leisure Services called for the outdoor rink to be covered during 2010" McIntyre stated. "I am now very disappointed to hear that at the last minute a decision was made to once again push the project back at least one more season. This decision will only have a negative impact on the kids and other organizations town wide" McIntyre added. Blair and Shelley Molto also wrote to council, as did other minor hockey parents, to ask the town to take another look at including the roof project in the 2010 budget.
Collingwood Councilor Mike Edwards continues to throw his support behind the outdoor ice surface roof project, stating that he'd rather see money go to the rink project than to the construction of two new roundabouts in the town.
Collingwood's Director of Leisure Services Peter Dunbar will be retiring in 2010. One of Dunbar's important initiatives has been, and remains, the Heritage Park Revitalization Project that will include a new Wellness Centre with upgrades to the existing Centennial Pool. This project has a proposed budget figure of 2.74 million dollars attached to it. Whether or not this project will move forward in its entirety is also up for discussion at the budget table.
February 22nd has been set as the deadline for the creation of the final draft budget.
Collingwood's outdoor rink is popular when conditions are good, but weather including bright sunshine can make conditions unreliable
