Old racetrack site proposed for Canada Games ice rink

SACKVILLE
By Yvette d'Entremont - The Weekly News
An HRM staff report looking at the feasibility of creating an outdoor skating rink somewhere in the municipality has captured the interest and imagination of councillors and residents.
The July 7 council report examined the purchase of ice-making equipment for the long track speed skating oval for the 2011 Canada Winter Games. It was suggested the four refrigerated ice making units needed for the speed skating oval could be redeployed for outdoor recreational skating after the Games.
If regional council approves moving ahead with a permanent outdoor ice surface, one of the refrigeration units could remain in HRM. The remaining three units would likely find homes in other parts of the province.
Soon after last week's council discussion, Sackville Rivers Association head Walter Regan sent out a mass email outlining why the former Sackville Downs site (where the former Walmart store was located) would make an ideal home for an outdoor rink. Besides its being easily accessible off Sackville Drive, Regan said there's enough land for three or four rinks, a great deal of parking space, and it would make use of a large portion of unusable land. Regan said that its proximity to the Sackville River Trail supports active transportation, and that such a facility would support the Sackville Streetscape Plan and could serve as part of a future skateboard park.
Lower Sackville Coun. Bob Harvey said while Regan makes many good points, it's too early to know in which community an outdoor ice rink would be best suited.
"We have one refrigeration unit and we have 23 districts. They all could make a claim in one way or another. We have to come up with an objective way to find a solution," Harvey said. "We (councillors) weren't going to get into the specifics of where it will be located, but look at how we could do it first. Some councillors got off the mark already, but really that's a debate for another day."
If Lower Sackville was in the running for an outdoor rink, Harvey said the Acadia Recreation Club property would be another possibility, given its central location and easy access to parking.
"Lots of people, young and old, could take advantage of such a facility. We're a population centre of the municipality, and could receive serious consideration," Harvey said.
"There's a market and a demand for it out here, but it's a matter of council coming to a decision, and it wouldn't actually happen (the rink) until after 2011 at the earliest."
ydentremont@hfxnews.ca