Boissevain’s unused rink to be removed
Advertisement
Read this article for free:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
We need your support!
Local journalism needs your support!
As we navigate through unprecedented times, our journalists are working harder than ever to bring you the latest local updates to keep you safe and informed.
Now, more than ever, we need your support.
Starting at $15.99 plus taxes every four weeks you can access your Brandon Sun online and full access to all content as it appears on our website.
Subscribe Nowor call circulation directly at (204) 727-0527.
Your pledge helps to ensure we provide the news that matters most to your community!
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Add Brandon Sun access to your Winnipeg Free Press subscription for only
$1 for the first 4 weeks*
*$1 will be added to your next bill. After your 4 weeks access is complete your rate will increase by $4.99 a X percent off the regular rate.
Read unlimited articles for free today:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
The unused outdoor rink on Egan Street in Boissevain is set to be removed this fall, out of concern for the state of the rundown structure.
A request for proposals was released on Sunday for a contractor to do a “complete removal of the existing outdoor arena, including all arena boards and related infrastructure.”
“Unfortunately, the condition of the rink is no longer safe. The boards are deteriorating. The concrete cement pad is in very rough shape,” said Wendy Giesbrecht, director of parks and recreation for the Municipality of Boissevain-Morton.
Head of Council Judy Swanson said removing the dilapidated rink is an important step that will create room for future housing. (File)
The municipality in the last few years has upgraded its outdoor rink at Kin Park, which is located about five blocks away. The old rink has not been used for a number of years.
“We want to make sure that we have the safety of our patrons in the forefront of our mind. We just don’t need kids going through boards or tripping on rocks and cement that’s heaved up,” Giesbrecht said.
“We’ve got roots coming through the pad, like it’s so many years old that it’s just in poor shape,” she said. “Because the cement pads are in that poor of a shape, we can’t scrape it, we can’t flood it, we can’t create that nice smooth surface. It’s unfortunate.”
The proposal says the rink should be completely removed by Nov. 28.
The new Kin Park rink at the corner of Struthers and Broadway streets is big enough for people to play hockey and skate freely on, Giesbrecht said.
She said there could potentially be another rink added in the future, but that Boissevain is a small community anyway.
“We’re a fairly small community, right? So to have two ice surfaces, one on each side of town, is lovely. But we are a small community,” Giesbrecht said.
Head of Council Judy Swanson said removing the dilapidated rink is an important step. It will also create room for future housing, such as fourplexes and duplexes.
“That lot is set aside for housing. So we thought getting the rink off there, getting the lot ready for housing is what we need to do,” Swanson said.
“That’s kind of the first step. We have a shortage of housing in Boissevain and we have had some people interested, so we wanted to get that land ready.”
The rink property is “a good piece of land that is downtown,” which hasn’t been properly utilized in recent years, she said, adding that housing on Egan Street is in the municipality’s 10-year plan.
“It’s a piece of land that I think has been overlooked, and rather than continue to build in the new subdivision, it would be really nice to have more housing downtown,” Swanson said.
While the property sits idle waiting for housing construction to start, it can be used for soccer or other games, she said.
» alambert@brandonsun.com