ELORA – What’s clear is that the multi-use pad at Bissell Park is in dire need of repair and is close to being closed as it becomes increasingly unsafe.
What’s not clear is what to do about it. And that was the subject of discussion at Centre Wellington council’s June 24 meeting.
The town of Elora received a $3.436 million donation from the estate of Jack R. MacDonald in 2016.
The fund stipulated that the money had to be spent for the betterment of people in Elora, the village where the parents of MacDonald, a wealthy American philanthropist, had lived and were buried.
The township allocated $1.805 million to rebuild the pedestrian bridge in Elora, now called the Jack R. MacDonald bridge, and repaved West Mill Street.
The remaining $1.509 million was to go to community groups in Elora.
A group of interested individuals and groups applied to improve Bissell Park with a new multi-use pad.
That group includes the Elora Rockers, the Elora Lions Club and Tom Keating, a local builder who hoped his expertise and connections could advance the project.
The group received $350,000 from the fund.
In 2023 the group realized the project was beyond its expertise so it was returned to the township, along with the $350,000 and additional funds raised, for a total of $413,000.
Council directed staff to hire a consultant to begin the process of designing a new multi-use pad with refrigeration.
At the June 24 meeting, managing director of community services Pat Newson presented a report recommending ATA Architects Inc. be hired to assess and provide cost estimates for four options for the multi-use pad and to prepare the necessary technical studies.
The assessment, which will cost up to $89,670, will look into the following options for a new outdoor refrigerated multi-use surface:
- option one: including a garage and mechanical building;
- option two: with a protected skating loop, plus a garage and mechanical building;
- option three: with a roof structure, including garage and mechanical building; and
- option four: with a protected skating loop, including a roof structure, garage and mechanical building.
Councillor Jennifer Adams was concerned about the cost.
“This is a change in the delivery plan” she said. “I’m seeing more money.”
Councillor Bronwynne Wilton said she doesn’t like that the MacDonald fund is being gobbled up by consultants just to learn the costs of the four options.
And she hoped to see other options that might come in at a lower cost, such as a rink without refrigeration.
“I’m worried we are committing to this fairly expensive project,” Wilton said.
“This is an opportunity to pause in light of what’s going on in the community.”
Newson said such a significant project needs proper analysis and that is what the consultant will provide.
The site poses engineering challenges because it slopes to the river and is on a flood plain.
“At the end of consulting, we will be ready to pivot with options,” Newson said.
“We’ll have an idea of capital and operating costs for each option.”
The idea of this multi-use surface is that it will be completely drop-in and unscheduled.
In the summer it can be used for basketball, dog training, ball hockey and numerous other activities.
And in winter it would be a rink, perhaps with inner boards for pick-up hockey and an outer loop for those who just want to skate.
Newson noted warmer winters have reduced the viability of outdoor rinks unless they have refrigeration systems. She added each of the options could be constructed in phases.
But until the costs of the different options are known, it’s all just speculation on what could actually be achieved at the site.
That is why “we have to move now,” Newson said. “So we’ll have the numbers at budget time.”
Newson said the consultant can start immediately and should have a report for council by August or September.
If council then agrees to one of the options, that work could go to tender over the winter and be built in 2025.
In a recorded vote the motion to award the contract to ATA Architects passed 3-2, with Wilton and councillor Denis Craddock opposed and councillors Adams, Barb Lustgarten-Evoy and Lisa MacDonald in favour.
Mayor Shawn Watters declared a conflict of interest as he is involved in Riverfest Elora, which takes place at Bissell Park, and did not take part in the discussion or vote.
Councillor Kim Jefferson was absent for the vote.
