By Yvette d'Entremont - The Weekly News
Many people who aren't involved with organized ice sports still want access to local ice surfaces for activities like recreational skating, according to preliminary results of a recent HRM questionnaire.
"Getting the four pad arena (in Bedford) is just step one to dealing with the HRM ice issue, not the solution," said HRM community developer Betty Lou Killen. "There are other facility needs in our communities."
In addition to a longstanding need for more ice surfaces, Killen said many facilities are aging. While she often hears from organized groups like those involved with hockey and ringette, Killen said it's more difficult to assess the needs of less structured groups such as gentlemen's hockey leagues.
The Facility Development Survey was available via HRM's website for about one month before closing last week.
"What we're finding is that folks do still want to do things like just recreational skate, which is wonderful," Killen said.
The data is still being processed. Killen said results from the questionnaire will likely be presented to regional council in the fall.
ydentremont@hfxnews.ca
