$700K for Keene arena upgrade
Arena floor to be rebuilt; ice-making equipment to be replaced
KEENE -- Otonabee-South Monaghan Township is receiving more than $700,000 in government funding to revamp its community centre this year.
The township is getting $702,485 to upgrade the Otonabee-South Monaghan Memorial Community Centre in Keene, southeast of the city.
Funding announcements were made at the community centre on Saturday by Peterborough MPP Jeff Lea land Northumberland Peter borough South MP Kim Rudd.
Leal announced $500,000 in fuding from the Ontario 150 – Ontario Trillium Foundation and Rudd declared a $202,485 contribution from federal gas tax funding.
“The Otonabee- South Monaghan Memorial Community Centre is the hub of our community. It is a place where generations gather to play and celebrate. We are grateful for the funds received ... as we get started on the significant revitalization at the heart of this community,” Reeve Dave Nelson said.
The money is going towards phase one of the two-phase revitalization project.
The first phase focuses on replacing the arena’s core infrastructure.
The old ice-making equipment will be replaced with a more efficient system that will serve both the arena and curling rinks using use less hydro.
The arena floor will be completely rebuilt with a new board system and benches and the centre’s storage areas will also be redone.
Plus, access to the stands will be opened up on either end to offer the option for a mini-rink play area.
The community centre was built in 1977, replacing an earlier facility built after the Second World War in honour of local veterans.
The second phase of the centre’s revitalization project will be to enhance and expand the public areas.
The plan is to reorganize the inside to have a brighter, barrier free, more functional lobby with an accessible viewing area and accessible washrooms.
By relocating the centre’s current curling space into an new addition, there’ll be room to create a player’s wing with more dressing rooms. The second-phase addition would also house a proposed fitness area.
The main entrance would be moved to face the parking lot and new signage will be added.
Upstairs, the centre’s Gold Room, a community gathering space, would get a renovated kitchen and hall.
Funding for phase two is expected to come from grants and community fundraising.
The township kicked off its community campaign Saturday during its celebrations honouring Canada’s 150th anniversary. More than 200 residents attended the community event.