Thorold is buying hours at the Haj-Ahmad Family Foundation walking track in the Walker Sports and Abilities Centre for the community to enjoy.
The initiative is a proposal by Councillor Anthony Longo.
“I think it’s a great facility and I think the community needs to use it more,” he said, during last week’s city council meeting.
While City Hall asked the consortium partners, as well as independent operator ASM Global, for use of the track every work day between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., this was not deemed feasible.
“We didn’t get what we asked for,” Councillor Longo told council members. “It’s a little disheartening being a major tenant. We’re sixth on the list for this sort of usage which is unfortunate being a tenant who pays about $900,000 to rent. It’s a little disturbing.”
According to the facility’s current allocation policy, preference is given to major events, followed by Brock University, tournaments, high performance groups, youth groups, with community use being the sixth priority on the list.
That’s why the allocated time slots offered are different almost every evening, with no availability on Tuesday.
“I look at the times and they’re sort of all over,” said Councillor Henry D’Angela. “I find it hard to swallow a bill when it’s a facility we lease. We’re number sixth on the list. Why should we pay in the first place when the building was built for the usage?”
It will cost the city a total $14,396.20 to buy the time slots at the track between November and April, but Councillor Longo feels that it is money well spent.
“Dollars matter and $15,000 is a fair bit of money but there are people who want track time at this time of day because they work all day,” he said. “To give them some benefit I would do it.”
And other councillors agreed.
“Anytime we can offer a facility where citizens will be able to get out, get moving, stay fit, this is all a positive thing,” said Councillor Tim O’Hare. “Especially with winter coming and roads and sidewalks being icy, this will be a comfortable place to go and walk and enjoy the company.”
In the end, the project was approved by city council, but City Hall will ask the consortium partners and ASM Global to reconsider their allocation policy going forward.
While Thorold is the one buying the hours, it is the intent to make the track available to all residents in the Region during the time slots.
The initiative is set to kick off next week and will adhere to the following schedule between November and April:
MONDAYS: 7:30pm - 9:30pm
WEDNESDAYS: 6:00pm - 8:00pm
THURSDAYS: 7:00pm - 9:00pm
FRIDAYS: 6:00pm - 8:00pm
