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Engineers vision of Alvinston arena renos studied

April 3, 2023

Brooke-Alvinston residents got the first look at the next phase of plans for the Brooke-Alvinston Inwood Community Centre.

The Alvinston Optimist began a project to revamp the aging arena. It raised money for an outdoor pavilion and had plans to continue inside. Before the last election, the club hoped to start raising money to refurbish the dressing rooms. But there was concern the structure couldn’t handle the planned renos. So, council agreed to have new engineering drawings of for the project completed.

March 23, those designs came to council and members of the Optimist Club and the local user groups got their first look. Optimist Jamie Armstrong voiced concern that the plans did not include renovations which had already been completed and that the new plans didn’t reflect the design the Optimist promoted for the outdoor roof line.

Both Mayor Dave Ferguson and Clerk Administrator Janet Denkers emphasized the engineers wanted to see the original blueprints from the building and that may be why some of the interior was different.

Ferguson also stressed the Optimist and the user groups have time to review the plans and to give suggestions for improvements that the architect will incorporate into the design.

Brooke-Alvinston agreed to pay $15,000 toward the plans with the Optimist raising money for the approved renovations.

Armstrong hopes with the full plan approved by council, the club will be able to access grants and set up a community fund to raise the money.

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