Friends of the Central Park Project have formed a petition!  For further information on the petition and to sign it, please visit:

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/collingwoodrecfacilities/ 

PETITION REASONING:

OPEN PETITION TO MAYOR COOPER AND MEMBERS OF COLLINGWOOD COUNCIL
“70% OF COLLINGWOOD RESIDENTS DON’T WANT WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO FORCE ON US”

We the undersigned, and especially the voting citizens of Collingwood, are outraged at the total lack of regard that you have shown this community by voting to cover over the old Centennial Pool (with no thought to the disabled, young families and the elderly) and coming up with other short sighted solutions. A community poll has shown that 7 out of 10 residents support the one community centre concept. You have failed to consult the public who put you in office which remains completely unacceptable. You are not demonstrating the open and transparent local government you promised when you were elected. We deserve much better than that. You pushed this through Council and 8 of you seemed pleased about your decision and acted oblivious to reality; you know the residents want a recreation community centre in one location. You have totally misread the strong wishes of this community.

To add insult to injury you voted to sole source the contract to one supplier with unacceptable and false rationale (there are many more than one vendor which is the unfounded reason you used). Other levels of government cannot sole source for any sum greater than $25,000 and our limit is as per the approved procurement policy is $50,000, not 12 million dollars. This is not right and you know it. DO NOT SIGN ANY CONTRACT WITH THE VENDOR!

We demand that you rescind the vote and treat us this town and the residents with the respect that we deserve. Start being accountable to the residents who elected you! We would like an opportunity to express our displeasure at the next Council meeting. It is not too late to restore our faith in you but frankly, we are losing our patience with this blatant lack of accountability.

ARTICLE FROM THE ENTERPRISE BULLETIN

COLLINGWOOD — The town is getting new recreational facilities.

In two separate votes, council opted to move ahead and enclose Centennial Pool with an architectural membrane structure, while erecting a new arena at Central Park using the same technology.

And while news the town will get a new arena and extended use of the municipal pool may be heralded by user groups desperate for facilities, council's decision-making also came with concerns about the process, and the fact the buildings have been sourced from one supplier.

The two buildings, including site servicing, will cost more than $11.6 million. However, using a combination of development charge accounts, the $1.5 million set aside for a new pool at the Y by the previous council, and $1.3 million from transferring Poplar Sideroad to Simcoe County, the capital expenditure for the buildings – supplied by Sprung – should not cost taxpayers a dime.

That also depends on whether the public wants to commit the $8 million from the sale of Collus Power.

COLLINGWOOD –The Town of Collingwood will spend $11.6 million on new recreational facilities over the next year.

Council voted to construct a new single-pad ice rink at Central Park and cover the Centennial Pool at Heritage Park.

The facilities will be fabric structures, purchased from Calgary-based Sprung. The company has built more than 12,000 structures in 93 countries and have been recommended by Hockey Canada president Bob Nicholson.

The arena will cost about $7.4 million and will feature seating for 250, new dressing rooms and other amenities.

The pool will include new change rooms and will accommodate seating for 250. The pool received $1.5 million in upgrades several years ago.

The following motion was passed by Town Council on Monday August 27th - 7 Councillors for, and one Councillor against: 

To proceed with the purchase and construction of an Insulated Architectural Membrane facility for a year-round single pad ice arena at Central Park, maintaining 2 ball diamonds, the outdoor ice rink, the lawn bowling facility, and additional green space – while keeping the option to twin the new arena at a future date; 



The following motion was passed by Town Council on Monday August 27th - 6 Councillors for, 2 Councillors against: 

To proceed with the purchase and construction of an Insulated Architectural Membrane structure over the existing Outdoor Pool including the removal and reconstruction of the existing building, in order to provide a year-round pool to meet the community’s aquatic and competitive swimming needs. 


It was also noted in Monday night's council meeting that staff are moving forward with replacing the roof on the Eddie Bush Arena. Total cost of the two passed motions, and fixing the Eddie Bush Arena roof will cost taxpayers 14.7 million plus operating costs (not including a contingency plan). 

Please click on the link to view the article: 

http://www.bayshorebroadcasting.ca/news_item.php?NewsID=49975

On Monday August 27th, Town Council voted and passed two motions:

1) To proceed with the purchase and construction of an Insulated Architectural Membrane structure over the existing Outdoor Pool including the removal and reconstruction of the existing building, in order to provide a year-round pool to meet the community’s aquatic and competitive swimming needs.  (6 Councillors for, 2 against).

2) To proceed with the purchase and construction of an Insulated Architectural Membrane facility for a year-round single pad ice arena at Central Park, maintaining 2 ball diamonds, the outdoor ice rink, the lawn bowling facility, and additional green
space – while keeping the option to twin the new arena at a future date.  (7 Councillors for, 1 against).

ARTICLE FROM THE CONNECTION, BY JOHN EDWARDS

COLLINGWOOD –Do it once and do it right. This is the message the newly formed Friends of the Collingwood Central Park Project are hoping to send to Collingwood Council.

Paul Cadieux is one of the founders of the group, whose mission is to get council to continue to pursue the recreation facility at Central Park.

"I thought it was appropriate for a group outside of that committee to have a greater effect of informing the community of some of the things that are happening," he said.

"Some of the things that were happening are not consistent with the steering committee's report." 

ARTICLE FROM BAYSHORE BROADCASTING/97.7 THE BEACH, by Mariane McLeod

A group of people in Collingwood has launched a lobbying campaign in support of a multi-milliondollar plan for Central Park.

The group, calling itself Friends of the Collingwood Central Park Project, say the proposal for a double pad ice rink and renovations at the park makes more sense than constant upgrades to other facilities spread throughout the town.

ARTICLE FROM THE ENTERPRISE BULLETIN, BY IAN ADAMS

COLLINGWOOD — Central Park, you have a few friends.

A group of Collingwood residents — headed up by Paul Cadieux, who is also co-chair of the town's Parks, Recreation and Culture committee — have launched a lobbying effort to convince council to move ahead with the direction set by the Central Park Steering Committee before examining alternatives.

On the weekend, Cadieux sent out an email to stakeholder groups and other interested parties, as well as posting a group on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-of-the-Collingwood-Central-Park-Project/187424814717298).

"(Council) needs to stay on track, and once the door is completely shut and every method of funding exhausted… and only when the public has had an opportunity to have input on the alternatives," he said. "But decisions are being made in isolation with no public input."