Re: "Council approves $1.5 million in funding for twin-rink facility," The Gazette, Aug. 17.
I have been following the Active Communities project for the past several months. I’m excited that city council voted to provide funding for the project last week.
The outdoor recreation and community hub will provide year-round recreation opportunities for residents at a fraction of the cost of the city building its own facility. It’s not every day that a municipality can cover a small portion of the project cost and reap all of the benefits, including not having to pay to operate it.
The city’s own third-party operational review made it clear the city should “re-evaluate its role in direct service delivery” and “explore alternate methods for service delivery.” That's exactly what this project represents.
I was appalled by city administration’s report to council that failed to properly convey the benefits of this project and its alignment with the city’s strategy. I was pleased that councillors Wes Brodhead, Shelley Biermanski, Sheena Hughes, Mike Killick, and Ken MacKay recognized the value of this project and the hundreds of positive voices in the community who have expressed their support.
I, for one, can’t wait until my family can use it.
Meagan Hazlewood, St. Albert
