Base, community looking at new Greenwood two-sheet arena

BY NANCY KELLY

Kings County Register

14 Wing Greenwood is looking to “connect with the community” in order to facilitate the development of a new ice arena for the local military and civilian population.

Project manager Mike Taylor says the partnership discussion now underway is just one avenue the base will follow to address the need for a new arena.

“The current rink is beyond its life and we have some options to explore with regards to its replacement,” explains Taylor.

While the ice plant at the Greenwood Gardens arena is just 12 years old, the surrounding infrastructure dates to the 1940s.

“There are also some other issues including heating and ventilation, lighting, parking and overall safety that need to be addressed - sooner rather than later,” says Taylor, “and the norm for 40- to 60-year-old buildings is replacement.”

Preliminary meetings between representatives of 14 Wing Greenwood, nearby village commissions and the province indicate a viable partnership could result in a new one- or two-pad ice surface “outside the wire” boundaries of the base.

“It’s definitely a different approach for the military, but the concensus so far is that is worth investigating,” says Taylor.

Over the next few months, a consultant will look at the feasibility of constructing a new facility - on or off the base, and the ways to get it built. Former PMQ lands west of Dwight Ross Elementary School are a possible site.

Documents from a recent partnership meeting say building a new facility off the base “would be legally and logistically very challenging, but could increase community involvement and deliver a superior product to all stakeholders.”

Taylor says, under a partnership scenario, the Department of National Defense would probably foot 50 per cent of the costs, with the province and municipality carrying the remainder. The cost to renovate the existing arena has been estimated at $1 million to $2 million, and replacement between $4 million and $6 million.

Taylor points out pursuing a new arena outside the base boundaries is also a good option: it would mean no interruption in service during the construction phase.

“The arena on the base is always fully booked, and to go without it for a season to get renovations done would be hard on the groups which depend on the facility for programming.”

He expects a final report on the project in early 2009.