Letter: Thanks for saving the Wallaceburg pool, but what about the arena?
First of all thank-you for saving the Sydenham Pool from the Budget Cut list last evening.
My name is Chris Young I am a lifelong resident of Wallaceburg , I am currently the President of Wallaceburg Minor Hockey Association (represent 350 community youth and families) and my son Rory is a new member of the Marlins swim team. I am writing this letter to you in hopes of continuing the conversation with respect to the futures of the Wallaceburg Memorial Arena and the Sydenham Pool. These facilities have been used and continue to be used not only by the residents of Wallaceburg , but also Walpole Island, Port Lambton, Sombra, and Dresden. I fear that the cloud of closure will continue to surface if dollars are not soon invested to upgrade, update and improve these facilities.
Having used both of these facilities all of my life it is easy to see that dollars have not been spent to improve these sights – in fact it is sometimes hard to see the dollars that are spent on maintenance. For example the hand dryer in the men’s washroom at the arena has been broken for months now (sounds like a jet plane taking off), along with a heater in the stands that has had a sign on it “temporarily out of order” for at least two months – temporary implies to me that it will soon be operational again. The single broken stick rack outside of Dressing room was finally taken down after years of hanging on the wall. It is embarrassing as a resident of a community with as much Pride in itself as Wallaceburg has to see such things weekly. One only needs to travel to Bothwell, Ridgetown, and Blenheim (both pool and Arena) to see those facilities and the pride they portray to anyone visiting.
Sydenham Pool has not had an improvement since it was built. Yes maintenance dollars are spent, but it should have handicap accessible change rooms, it should have a family change room, it should have a proper viewing area, there is property available around the pool building that could be used to expand and improve the facility, brighten it up and add other amenities. We live in a community surrounded by water – there is no reason why every child in our community does not learn how to swim at the Sydenham pool.
Is it too much to ask or expect the same recreation facilities as other communities in our municipality. I would like to know what the direction is for these municipal assets, does the municipality want them improved or do we accept the status quo and watch them continue to disintegrate until there is no other choice than too close the Pool and Arena. I am willing to be part of a community task force to examine and identify areas of opportunity for these Amenities.
Respectfully,
Chris Young,
Wallaceburg, Ontario
Editor’s Note: This letter was sent to Mayor Randy Hope and councillors Sheldon Parsons, Jeff Wesley and Art Stirling.
not from Wallaceburg
January 24, 2013 at 7:31 pm
I wonder if Chris Young could organize a community group to spend a day fixing up some of the more obvious maintenance problems themselves. Leaving a broken stick rack hanging for years seems like an easy thing to fix and perhaps there are other things which can be done to demonstrate involvement by volunteers working with the municipality to improve this facility. Is there a horticultural society which would do attractive plantings around the building. Could a group paint the public areas?
Sometimes the first initiative has to come from citizens before staff and Councillor follow on.
reader1900
January 25, 2013 at 8:31 am
A broken stick rack and such sounds like maintenance staff not doing there job – this is a no cost fix. The arena is staffed as much as any other. As for your comment, “Is it too much to ask or expect the same recreation facilities as other communities in our municipality” – well, I’m afraid you’re getting exactly that! Have you been to the other arenas? They are often just as pitiful!!
Alli
January 25, 2013 at 1:24 pm
I agree with the other poster “not from Wallaceburg”. I think it would be a great idea for someone to organize a group to volunteer to do some painting and the simpler maintenance on these places. I grew up in Wallaceburg but no longer live there, but my family still does. The arena was pretty much my second home growing up since my brothers and I all played hockey and my parents volunteered for Minor Hockey. I would be so sad if I were to come home for a visit one day and learn that the arena was closing, or to see it in disrepair. If someone organizes a committee I would be happy to volunteer one weekend when I am home to paint or something else that I can help with.
Chuck Green
January 29, 2013 at 12:41 pm
At $130000.00 ice bill a year I think what Chris is saying is these are items that need to be taken care of by the staff that we the hockey parents pay fee’s to help employee them. Chris’s schedule as well as many of ours does not allow for time to take care of items that a paid employee is supposed to maintain. The items he listed are just a sample. We all have good employees and some that need a little motivation. A simple daily walk through could point out a list of items to be repaired when time or funds permit.