Partners ante up to further Greenwood twin-pad project

BY NANCY KELLY

Kings County Register

Phase two of Greenwood’s Arena Curling Partnership Project (ACPP) is set to roll out, following a confirmed financial commitment from a majority of project stakeholders.

The ACCP between 14 Wing Greenwood, Nova Scotia, the Municipality of Kings and the villages of Kingston and Greenwood formed in 2008, with the intent of collaborating on the construction of a new two-pad ice arena and curling arena to replace the aging Greenwood Gardens. A study in 2008 determined continuance of the project was feasible and supported by all of the partners and the community-at-large.

During the initial stage, committees were formed to develop details on facility design, finance and future uses for the Western Kings Arena in Kingston, likely redundant as an ice surface with a new two-pad arena in Greenwood. Work at the committee level will continue into phase two, which will feature additional research on development of a capital financing strategy and plans for design, construction and operation.

Before phase two could be implemented, stakeholders were asked to kick in $10,000 each to cover costs associated with moving ahead. Kingston village commissioner Lorne Reid didn’t hesitate to suggest this financial target to the partnership committee late last fall. “We know we need about $50,000 to take this thing to the next level, so it seems only appropriate we split it five ways to get this thing moving,” explained Reid to his fellow commissioners when he first broached the subject at the commission’s November meeting.

Commissioner Martha Armstrong wasn’t quite as convinced the villages should be asked to contribute the same as the federal, provincial and municipal governments. “Financially speaking, they are Goliaths and we are Davids,” said Armstrong.

Reid countered “without a commitment from all the players, the project could flounder,” leaving 14 Wing to go ahead with its original plans to build a single pad arena on base. “The partnership presents an excellent opportunity for our communities to get an accesiible, outstanding recreation facility in the area, and I think it is important we signal that Kingston is in.”

At meetings in December, Kingston did approve $10,000 for the phase two study, as did Kings County council and the Village of Greenwood. The base also confirmed the Department of National Defense will contribute $10,000.

The only stakeholder that hasn’t committed phase two funding is the province. “But that isn’t because we wouldn’t consider it,” explained Mike Trinacty of the provincial department of Health Promotion and Protection. “This agreement to raise $50,000 was arrived at very informally and (the province) has yet to receive a written request from the partnership asking the province come on board” with phase two funding, added Trinacty. He noted the province has strict protocols to be followed with respect to accessing project funding. “The province has been supportive of this project and there is no reason we won’t continue to be. We just need to make sure we follow proper procedure in dealing with taxpayer’s dollars.”