Residents of the Township of Scugog seems to be passionate about their public facilities. Following vocal opposition to the visioning exercise for Port Perry Fairgrounds, now residents of Blackstock want their arena to be saved.
One of the residents has even written to Scugog mayor and council passionately appealing for urgent efforts to save the Blackstock Arena.
“This is an urgent appeal for you to save the Blackstock Arena and vote in favour of the staff recommendation on October 6 to purchase a portable ammonia refrigeration plant that would support the current sized ice pad and would replace the need to repair the existing cooling tower and heat exchangers,” said concerned resident Sandra Frey.
“Without the immediate purchase and installation of a portable ammonia refrigeration plant, the Blackstock Arena will cease to exist. We will the lose the hub that has sat at the heart of our community since 1937. The Blackstock Arena is historical, it is unique, and it is charming – people love to use our ice pad! It is critical to the health, wellness and quality of life for our residents who live, work and play here,” she pointed out.
Frey said she was “strongly concerned after hearing the unfavourable comments made at the September 8 GPA meeting which were not in support of spending any money at the arena and there is a sense of its pending demise”.
The 2018 Parks, Recreation and Culture Strategic Master Plan identified the replacement of the single ice pad at the Blackstock Recreation Complex as the township’s highest priority because of the age of the freon-based system and because the refrigerant was no longer available Frey pointed out.
“No monies were allocated to the capital budget at that time, and no monies have been allocated since. Now we find ourselves in dire straits because nothing was budgeted for and one of the townships assets has not been maintained,” she said.
She said the Township of Scugog Asset Management Plan requires that the municipality have a plan for infrastructure and assets that identifies proposed levels of service and a strategy to fund those activities. A public survey determined that the public wants to prioritize maintenance for the replacement of current facilities before adding new facilities.
She also pointed out that the 2023–2026 Strategic Plan, a guiding document devised by council, contains
Strategic Directives, including:
#2. Infrastructure to enhance recreational facilities both new and existing to continue providing recreational activities for all ages and abilities; and
#5. Complete Community to strengthen our communities to be inclusive, healthy, safe, connected and engaged.
User groups of the Blackstock Recreation Complex themselves are historic. The Blackstock Curling Club celebrates 75 years, the Blackstock Skating Club 35 years, and the Blackstock Minor Hockey League 25 years. All have been recognized by the Scugog Sports Hall of Fame for their longevity and contributions to the community. There is a group of local men who have rented the ice to play hockey for 40 years, and the group of women who play hockey are not far behind. Programming has increased over the past few years and popular programs like Learn to Skate, Shinny, Stick and Puck and public skating are being filled to near capacity. People from near and far rent ice time at the Blackstock Arena, Frey said.
“I do not understand why a municipality would want the closure of an ice pad that is being used and generates revenue…Consider the residents and taxpayers from the eastern side of the township. Allow us to grow our community, expand with new homes and attract young families. Support our local stores, restaurants and businesses that benefit from people coming to the arena,” she said.
“Losing the Blackstock Arena would be a great disservice to our residents,” Frey added.