The plan to build a new twin arena in South Burnaby is moving to the next step.
The city is getting ready to issue a request for proposals for a feasibility study for the development of a new ice arena.
The city’s RFP will focus on a site at 10th Avenue and 18th Street within the Edmonds Town Centre plan and feature two rinks.
On Monday, council approved the study, which is expected to cost $250,000 and take several months to complete.
“People will be excited about this,” said Dave Ellenwood, the city’s parks and recreation director, adding user groups continually ask when the arena is moving forward. “Yes we want to get it done quickly, but we need to do it right.”
The city was looking at three possible locations for the arena including Bonsor Park and MacPherson Park, but eventually settled on the Edmonds location.
Ellenwood said the site made the most sense both because of its size and that it’s in a growing neighbourhood near the Southgate development.
According to a staff report, the study will also examine the service needs and facility requirements to provide both dry floor space and ice surface. The study will also look at a program to not only include the ice rink, but other amenities like public meeting space, bulk storage, limited seating and a snack bar component.
There are currently three city-owned rinks in Burnaby: Bill Copeland Sports Centre, Burnaby Lake Arena and Kensington Arena. The Bill Copeland was the last city arena to be built, back in 1997.
While the city wants the feasibility study to focus on the location and two rinks, Ellenwood said the study still needs to determine what’s best for the site.
The city has put aside $22 million out of the 2017/18 capital budget to construct the new facility and is proposing to use the community benefit fund that comes from development.
User groups like the Burnaby Minor Hockey Association have said there is growing demand for ice time and they are maxed out in terms of accommodating the number of players and offering reasonable ice times to entice new members.
