Sens Rink goes to next step

The idea of Belleville having an outdoor Sens Rink in its future has gone to the study stage.

The Ottawa Senators Foundation already has outdoor rinks in the Ottawa area and is partnering with the Belleville Rotary Club on the idea of one in this city.

Rotary representatives Tim McKinney and Ryan Lapalm told council Monday the project is more than a winter outdoor rink, but would also include a year round facility for basketball, ball hockey, other sport during the warmer seasons.

Belleville Senators Vice President Roger Lajoie told council it would be “a beautiful legacy to be left here.”

Director of Recreation Mark Fluhrer tells Quinte News the idea would be to phase-in the project over time.

He says if you pick the right location “that already has a lot of those amenities, so the key is going to be selecting a location that minimizes the impact on the existing programs, enhances existing uses of other programs, minimizes the amount of infrastructure support that needs to be provided to make it feasabile and puts this thing on the map sooner than later.”

“There is parkland in the city that could work as possible locations.”

Councillors questioned the cost to the city over the years.

Councillor Kelly McCaw said she wants to see “who would pay what.”

Fluhrer assured council that staff would come back with the feasibility study and with options, and the possibilities around phasing it in.

The idea would be the Belleville Senators, the Senators Foundation, the Belleville Rotary Club, and the city get together to build a “Sens Rink”.

The outdoor rink would have permanent boards and be maintained year round and used for basketball, ball hockey, and other sports during the warmer seasons.

This year alone the Senators Foundation has donated $2 million to charitable and recreational projects in the Ottawa region.

The Belleville Rotary Club is interested in taking on local fundraising efforts for the rink and city council is being asked to approve a feasibility study looking at location and costs.

Council directed staff to work with the two parties and report back with a potential location and a proposed financial model.