Council ok’s Community Access Plan for new arena

The $39-million, HRM 4 Pad Arena has moved another step closer to relieving some of the pressure on the many existing arenas across the region.

HRM Council last night (June 22) passed the Nustadia Recreation Inc.’s Community Access Plan.

The plan focuses on ensuring some of the groups who have had a hard time in the past accessing arena time are given a chance within the new facility, expected to open Fall 2010.

By putting in writing the need to open up time to new groups like women’s hockey leagues, ringette, other hockey teams and skaters, for example, the plan levels the playing field.

It is important to note that each year the usage will be reviewed. This will give interested groups a chance to have their say if there is concerns real access needs are not being met.

Nustadia Recreation Inc. – chosen to operate the new arena because of its extensive experience operating similar facilities across the country – will manage the facility based on the plan as passed by council today.

The arena is a two-storey complex with four, NHL-sized ice surfaces and all the amenities. It is being constructed to meet LEED Silver standard – a set of leading environmental and energy efficiency standards.

The arena will bring the total number of ice surfaces available in HRM to 26.

While this new arena will help with accessibility in the short-term, HRM Council has recently set up a committee to look at the long-term issues facing arena availability.

To view the complete Council presentation on the Accessibility Plan for the new HRM 4 Pad Arena, go to www.halifax.ca/facilities/Multi-PadArena.