Owen Sound Council will decide early this summer whether or not the two rinks at the Regional Recreation Centre will be opened to the public this fall.
The rink portion of the 38.6 million dollar facility will be finished before the rest of the building and it’s been suggested the two ice surfaces could be available for use by November.
Councillor Jim McManaman — the Chair of the Rec Centre Steering Committee — says many decisions will have to be made before that possibility can be determined.
McManaman says safety has to be the main consideration since the building will still be an active construction site.
He notes there would likely be cost implications if it’s decided the arena portion could in fact be opened early.
The contractor and city staff will make a report in June to the steering committee, which will consider that report and make a recommendation to council.
McManaman says one factor could be the ice plant at the aging Coliseum, which the arena portion of the rec centre is intended to replace.
The Coliseum’s ice plant has already surpassed its expected life span.
That said, while staff are nursing it along in the hope of getting one more year out of it — McManaman says there’s been no indication that it’s ready to give up the ghost.
He says bookings will be made as usual for the Coliseum next season.
If necessary, those bookings could be transferred to the rec centre ice.
