“The city has one sheet of indoor ice per 16.801 residents and for future planning, the report suggests a target ratio of 15,000 residents per indoor rink.” Red Deer Advocate Aug. 16 2016.
The city has two communities: North population about 30,000, and South population about 69,000.
The city operates six indoor ice rinks, one in the north and five in the south. (North one per (an estimated) 30,000 residents, and South one per (an estimated) 13,800 residents.)
The (city’s ice facilities) report points to the G.H. Dawe Centre as the ideal location for a new ice, provided is deemed viable at the time. If the Dawe upgrade is not viable, then adding a sheet to the Collicutt is the back up plan.
Of course it will not be viable, because it will be 50 years old and needs replacement.
The land north of Hwy 11a is available for developing, with 2,000 acres. Projected population north of the river will be 50,000 plus residents (with) no plans for a rink or a pool or take full advantage of the lake located there.
Why not kill many birds with the same stone. Address the deficits in swimming pools, in ice rinks, in north side facilities, and use the lake,(Hazlett Lake) for swimming in the summer and skating in the winter.
Build the recreational facility incorporating a 50m pool, and an ice rink on Hazlett Lake and boost tourism to boot. It is visible to Hwy 2, has easy access from Hwy 2, but I honestly doubt that building anything but industrial parks and housing north of the river will ever be in this council’s mindset.
Garfield Marks, Red Deer