Archive

Why Beeton’s ready for a new Community Centre

October 15, 2015   ·   0 Comments

The Beeton Memorial Arena is falling apart.
The half century old building is a grim place to spend time, with little natural lighting sources and an outdated single ice surface and seating.
It’s no secret in this small town, comprised of Tottenham, Alliston and Beeton, that not a lot of dollars, nor ‘cents’ have been put into keeping the Beeton Arena vibrant and viable. As it stands today, the building is a disgrace amoungst the other shining recreation centres we have throughout the municipality.
Why does it stay this way? Perhaps it’s because council has already identified the remodeling of the centre as a project for future consideration; or maybe it’s because too much money has already been spent elsewhere in the Parks, Recreation & Culture budget; maybe it’s because PR&C has taken so much flack over recent years (mostly to do with over spending, bad bookkeeping and too many favours) that starting another major project – Tottenham and Alliston already have beautiful new facilities – would bring too much criticism. Then, there’s the two main school’s of though in New Tec – the, “we want libraries, cultural centres and other venues that allow for artistic creativity”, versus the “we want enviable community centres for our children to play in, and visiting teams to admire”. Or maybe everyone just wants a pool instead.
Knowing that cost is usually a tipping point in any council consideration, the group ‘FAB’, or Fund for A new community centre in Beeton’ was formed.
Pledging a $500,000 commitment towards the cost of a new multipurpose facility, FAB members have been working tirelessly – hosting fundraisers, garnering support from council and attracting new volunteer board members (of which they now have 22) – for the past 11 years.
The building of their dreams will cost between $8–10 million and would feature more than six programmable spaces; a new Town Square; linkage to New Tecumseth Public Library; multi-activity area arena surface; indoor and outdoor areas for performing arts and would, “meet changing needs, be energy efficient and will be an important sustainable asset in the community”, according to the new FAB brochure, released last week.
Suggested activities at the new building include:
• fitness and lifestyle
• youth activities
• community events
• curling, hockey, figure skating, ball hockey and more
• exhibitions
• dances
• banquets
• multi activity sports: basketball, volleyball, tennis, lacrosse, badminton
• arts and culture
Proposed facility features would include:
• multi-purpose floor/ice pad
• change rooms
• community hall with kitchen
• meeting rooms for all ages and community groups
• heated seating area
• fitness/wellness centre
• walking track
• concession
• large lobby/greeting area
Proposed outdoor space would include:
• hard, multi-use recreation surfaces
• rest area with green space
• paved parking lot
• access to New Tecumseth trail network
• proximity to local park area, restaurants, library and downtown
• Town Square
Through council, project discussions began in 2008 when the council of the day funded a Leisure and Cultural Master Plan that recommended redeveloping the Beeton Community Centre and Arena.
In 2009, council hired James Fryett Architect Inc. to conduct a Site Plan Feasibility Study (Stage 1). The architects presented preliminary schematic design drawings.
In that year, council also formed the Beeton Facility Planning Task Force to oversee the planning and design of the facility and approved funding to be included in the 2010 Capital budget to complete Stage II of the Beeton Community Centre development.
In 2011 James Fryett completed studies and design development. Completed design concepts were approved by council.
By 2012, the project was ready for design drawings and funding, but no further action was taken by council.
This year, according to the new FAB brochure, The Town of New Tecumseth and FAB are in the process of identified sources of capital funds to continuing moving forward with the project.
To date, FAB members have raised $200,000 towards the redevelopment project and organizers say they have many new fundraising ideas planned to keep the momentum going.
There are two ways you can help. Accounts have been set up for FAB – funds raised will be allocated to the new facility; and a second account has been set up through the Town of New Tecumseth in order to make donations eligible for Charitable Donation Tax Receipts. These funds are kept in the ‘Replace Beeton Arena’ reserve.
A new arena in Beeton is desperately needed, especially with the expected growth in the towns population and FAB members are following in the footsteps of Tottenham residents, who raised the entire cost of building the original Tottenham Community Centre building through events and door-to-door canvassing. Today, the cost of building an arena has increased to more than $10 a household, but FAB members have the right idea nonetheless.
For more information about FAB or how to become part of history by helping with this project call Ray Lisk, FAB Chair, at 905 729–2436 or visit www.thefab.ca

By Wendy Gabrek

Readers Comments (0)