This article was previously published on EloraFergusToday.com
ELORA – Centre Wellington staff are recommending council endorse adding a refrigeration unit and roof to the Bissell Park multi use pad.
At a high-level estimated cost of $5.7 million staff suggested in a report this would only go ahead based on a successful provincial recreation grant to cover half of the project cost.
In the summer, council directed staff to work with a consultant to review options for the drop-in recreational facility at the Elora park which is near the end of its usable life.
The report said the pad is high used as an ice surface in the winter, made and maintained by volunteers, and when dry can accommodate basketball, road hockey, lacrosse, dog training and other activities.
“What makes this multi-use pad so unique is that it is a free drop-in recreation facility for all age groups to enjoy many activities and the space/park is only reserved during special events,” the report said. “Weather trends have reduced the length of the outdoor natural ice season so natural ice is very limited during the winter months.”
After consultation with some community groups and the consultant, staff recommend building a new surface with dashboards and basketball nets plus adding refrigeration and ice resurfacing equipment to extend the period it can be used for skating.
The recommendation also suggests a roof structure to shelter users from the weather elements and reduce the resources needed to maintain the surface.
This plan would also include more accessible pathways to the pad and a storage shed to house equipment.
This would raise the township’s annual operating expense for Bissell Park from $13,400 to $95,100.
Another aspect of this project has staff recommending an application be made to the province for the Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund announced in April which provides funding to go towards upgrading or building new recreation facilities.
The project would fall under stream two of the fund, staff wrote, which would fund 50 per cent of eligible project costs and is the “greatest opportunity for cost recovery for the township.”
Council will consider this recommendation at a meeting on Tuesday starting at 5 p.m.
