BY CRAIG GILBERT
Greater Sudbury needs to have more recreation facilities in its highly populated areas.
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City council received a report from London-based consultants Monteith Brown Planning Consultants at a meeting of the priorities committee last week, which recommended a multi-use recreational facility along the Notre Dame/ Lasalle corridors and de-commissioning the Cambrian and Capreol Arenas.
Jean Monteith presented the report to council, which identifies the former City of Sudbury as under-serviced as far as arenas go.
She also suggested council de-commission either the Chelmsford, Jim Coady or Raymond Plourde Arena in favour of a second ice pad at South EndÂ?s Countryside Arena.
The consultants took a cold, unemotional approach in assessing the cityÂ?s needs for recreational facilities.
Looking at population growth and demographic projections, Monteith said the cityÂ?s arenas simply arenÂ?t in the right places.
Ward 4 Councillor Ted Callaghan took issue with that.
Â?ItÂ?s funny that before amalgamation the arenas were in the right place but now they arenÂ?t,Â? he said.
Ward 5 Councillor Frances Caldarelli questioned the logic of putting another big draw along the traffic nightmare that is the Lasalle and Notre Dame corridor.
Ward 2 Councillor Ron Bradley wanted nothing to do with more arena closures.
Â?This is a slap in the face,Â? he said. Â?IÂ?m sad. WeÂ?re talking about hurting people. If you thought there was a lot of people at the hearing for the store hours bylaw Monday ... if you close these arenas, there will be more.Â?
Council simply doesnÂ?t market its arenas well enough, Ward 3 Councillor Ron Dupuis said.
Arenas were losing money in Valley East when the city was operating the concession stands. When they started leasing them out to contractors, possible examples being a fast food joint or a Tim Hortons, the arenas turned a collective profit of $20,000 annually.
Dupuis also noted that though there are three Junior A hockey teams in the area, the city only Â?caters to one.Â?
ThatÂ?s foolish, he said, because the teams are economic drivers, attracting other clubs which spend money at restaurants and hotels.
