Feature Article May 27, 2004
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Project End Zone team seeks to modernize North Frontenac ArenaThe North Frontenac Arena, which is managed by a volunteer board and is supported by South and Central Frontenac Townships, is now 27 years old, and a group of 16 interested people, nicknamed the Project End Zone team, have come together to look at upgrading its facilities for current and future use.
Jim Stinson, general manager of the arena, and Lawrence Villalta, a parent of young hockey players and a member of the new group, came to a meeting of Central Frontenac Council on Tuesday, May 25 to ask for approval in principle for the project. They showed some of the preliminary plans the group would like to put in place if they can do all the necessary fundraising.
Villalta told council how inadequate the change room facilities have become at the arena, given that enrolment in hockey among youngsters is exploding.
The impact of girls hockey was not envisioned when the arena was first built, but there are now five teams in the girls hockey association and two Ladies teams using the facility. Villalta points out that the current dressing rooms are not only too small, they also share washroom facilities, and I dont think we want boys and girls sharing washrooms and showers.
Proposed enhancements to the arena include turning the existing two change rooms into one, and building an extension which would house four new change rooms, and significantly improve other aspects of the facility.
A second storey above the extension is also envisioned, and this would provide for a new banquet/meeting hall if built. Both Stinson and Villalta recognise that building the second storey will require additional fundraising, but they pointed out that if there is ever going to be a second storey built on, it will be most likely to happen as part of a single renovation.
We dont know how far we can go with this yet, Villalta said, adding If we cant accomplish our super duper goal, we will try to get to our super goal.
The Project End Zone team has committees working on fundraising, grants, publicity and design. One member of the team is an architect, and that person has produced a preliminary working design for the project.
Jim Stinson was able to advise council about some of the nuts and bolts of the project that will be of interest, including possible septic alterations to the site, and other potential costs.
Councillors were uniformly supportive of the project, and pointed out that the arena has been run in a cost effective manner. Stinson told Council that last year there was a $21,800 cost to the partner townships for running the arena, due to the fact that youth group ice time is subsidized by about $25 an hour. According to a cost sharing arrangement with South Frontenac, Central Frontenac paid 41% of that total.
Summing up the goal that has been set by the End Zone team, Villalta described the arena as a highly visible piece of infrastructure in our area which needs our attention now.
To me this is a natural progression said Mayor Bill MacDonald. Council unanimously endorsed a motion expressing support for the plan in principle and asked Villalta and Stinson to come back in the fall with an update on their progress.
When do you hope to have it done by? asked Councillor Jack Nicolson.
Well, our 30th anniversary is in the fall of 2006, said Jim Stinson, and Lawrence Villalta added, September 17, 2006, at 2 pm.
A presentation was made later on Tuesday to a Committee of the Whole meeting in South Frontenac, where it was also well received. Support in the form of a motion from Council will be proposed at the next South Frontenac Council meeting on June 1.