To build or not to build? Report coming soon on new Charlottetown sports complex

Charlottetown's citycouncil will soon have a report from a task force about whether or not the city should go ahead with a new multi-use sports facility.

The city is dealing with aging facilities and a shortage of ice time right now.A report on what to do to solve the problems is in its final stages.

The task force has been looking into the idea of a multi-use sports centre since last year.

• Feasibility of new Charlottetown sports, entertainment complex reviewed

Up to $1.8 million in rink subsidies

The city is spending between $1.5 to $1.8 millioneach year to subsidize four rinks: the Cody Banks arena, the Simmons arena, the Eastlink Centre and the CARI complex.

Mayor Clifford Lee said he's not sure if that's sustainableand that the city needs to look at the bigger picture when it comes to recreational facilities, citing the Simmons arena as being in particularly bad shape.

"The Simmons arena, every fall we have to send a structural engineer in to see if that building is safe to put people in for the winter season because the foundation continues to wash out from a leak in the pool that's attached to it, and that's causing the building to shift," he said.

He added thathe thinks one multi-use facility makes sense but he will wait to hear what the task force recommends.

'Reality needs to kick in here'

Right now various groups from hockey to ringettearestruggling to get enough ice time forpracticesand games.

• Ice time in hot demand in Charlottetown

Other sporting groups such as curling and gymnastics are also looking for better locations, Lee explained.

He added that for a small city like Charlottetown, one big sports centre could save money, compared to having several rinks spread out over different locations.

"If you've got fourice pads in one building it would seem to me your operational costs would be a lot lowerthan having four different buildings throughout the city ofCharlottetown," Lee said.

"The other side of it is I think reality needs to kick in here for council, andthat is that the city of Charlottetown is not that big a communitythat we need to spread our ice surfaces around the city of Charlottetown."

While the mayor thinksone multi-use facility makes sense, he said that ultimately he will wait to hear what the task force recommends.

Report expected in a few weeks

A strong business plan will be necessary with any plan, the mayorsaid.

"I think it's important that we all know what the operational expenses are if and when any complex is ever built."

He added that any new multi-use facility wouldrequire funding from all levels of government and probably community fundraising.

Extra funding will likely be available through the 2023 Canada games, which P.E.I. is hosting.

The task force is expected to submit its report to council in a few weeks.

• MORE P.E.I. NEWS |P.E.I. veteran donates land to Island Nature Trust
• MORE P.E.I. NEWS |UPEI students design solutions for clean water in Kenya