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Rink windfall – Metro US

Rink windfall

It just might be the tip of the iceberg.

Mayor Dave Bronconnier yesterday signed off on a $9.5-million city commitment for the Trico Centre for Family Wellness, formerly the Family Leisure Centre, bringing the fundraising plans for a new arena closer to the $20-million goal.

“This will go a long way, right away, to addressing the need in the southeast area,” said Bronconnier, noting a shortage of at least a dozen more facilities required to meet the public’s demand and city commitments of $350 million to tackle the issue. “It’s literally chipping away at a very large issue.”

The project will include twinning the existing arena, upgrading the main entrance, adding a family dressing room, more parking space and refurbishing surrounding soccer fields and ball diamonds.

Ward 14 Ald. Linda Fox-Mellway said it was a “very big day for this community,” and just the start of what she hopes will be a rapid move on the city’s behalf to add more rinks to the city’s stable.
“We’re going to do it as quickly as we can,” she said.

Construction will begin Aug. 1, with an opening date tentatively set for September of next year.
neil.mackinnon@metronews.ca