Petition against Halifax oval launched

People opposed to making the skating oval on the Halifax Common a permanent fixture have launched a petition to get rid of it after the Canada Winter Games.

"Everybody talks about free skating. It won't be free," Katie Campbell said Wednesday. "There's no way they can put that in and that it can be free."

Last week, Halifax Mayor Peter Kelly pegged the cost to operate the oval at about $250,000 a year. Municipal staff is calculating the actual cost, and a report to council is expected soon.

Since money is a speed bump, the keep-the-oval camp wants to smooth it out.

John Gillis is launching a fundraiser, and he's pledging $500 to keep the oval open. His goal is to raise $50,000 and he hopes the regional council will match those funds.

"There's no point in tearing itapart. It's wonderful and we need to keep it going," he said.

"We need to demonstrate to the city as a community that we're taking it seriously and that we can raise some money to help with some of the startup and maintenance costs on an ongoing basis."

Campbell said they won't be able to raise enough money.

"That's somewhere over $1 million to do all that work, and then do the maintenance," she said. "It still won't be free and it still will require corporate sponsorship and it won't look like what it looks like now a nice open spot."

Campbell wants to move the oval, perhaps to the site of the former Halifax West High School.

She said her views are getting a frosty reception. "It's a very hostile response and I find that upsetting, also," she said.

So far, theonline petitionset up by Campbell has more than two dozen signatures.

The campaign to save the oval has collected nearly 7,500 names, and the website will soon be set up to take pledges or donations.