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Town planning for new sports arenas, art centre Five lit softball diamonds in plan 'icl Day-t e By IRENE GENTLE The Champion Growth is poised to swell Milton to almost triple its current population. And when aIl those people arrive, they're going to need somnewhere to play. To ensure they find it in Milton, the Town is working on a draft Master Parka Plan to bring aporta complexes to the area, beginning aa early aa next year. "Essentially this will be one piece of our planning puzzle as we actually begin planning our parka," aaid the Town's community aer- vices director Jennifer Reynolds. The draft project ia a continua- tion of a number of existing plan- ning principals in Milton, said con- aultant Jim Morgenstern of DMA Planning and Management Services. He appeared before the Town'a community services committee laat week to unveil the plan. From 33,000 today, Milton will likely top out as 85,000 by 2016. To accommodate them, Milton will likely he thse future host of two twin pad arenaa, with construction of thse first launching next year. Ideally; they would be built aide bv aide. eventuallv creatinLa a four- fink sporta complex to host tourna- ments and other special events. "By locating them together, we're minimizing the impact in residential areas and we can also achieve efficiencies," said Mr. Morgenstern. That's a Iuxury many other municipalities have had to forgo due to space constrainta. "You have the opportunity to presty much wnite your own plan- ning principals," hie aaid. "You have a gra deal of flexi- bility." The plan also provides for an indoor pool in 2008 and an arts and cultural centre in 2005. Two lit and five unlit basebaîl diamonds are in the works, with the first scheduled to come on board in 2002. Five lit softball diamonds are also planned, along with three lit and 15 unlis playing fields. Two three-court tennis areas are also scheduled to come on board in 2004 and 2012. Grouping sports fields and are- nas is the moat coat-effective way to build, said Mr. Morgenstemn. "We wanted to ensure everyshing was working together and could ke achieved," hie said. "I'm happy to report it works juat fine." TIsas made sente to Councillor with a drive-through on one aide that opens up on the inside. Mayhe even a Wendy's. What t have in mind is a shopping concourse with an arena in there somewhere." Councillor Brian Penman asked about the possibilisy of lessing the private sector handle the complex- es. But while Mr. Morgenstern advised against closing any doors prematurely, he wasn't ail in favour of the ides. "My personal opinion? There's more apparent potential than there may ke realized benefits," he said. "My point, counicillor, is tIsera are alternatives to private sector marketing. Is haan't been nearly as succesaful as it was thought to be." But Mayor Gord Krantz waa eager to look into partnering wits thse private sector. "WIsen it comes to dealing with this, we're salking about it king bottom-line driven," hie said. "Partnerships, that seema to ke tIse huzzword these days." And Councillor Ron Furik want- ed to ensure there'd ke ample park- ing as Uic new sites as well as fenc- ing for increased safety. "For me it's safety firat, and safety means having a fence," he sajd. «Me Canadian Champion, Tuesday, April 11, 2M0 -5 Cali Ail These Countries 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. ui USA cko A& 0 FRANE ti-l 1 per minute anytimel GERIrn IRELND. <7TeIehop TM 876-3918 225 MAIN ST. E. SUITE #3 e-maiI-miltonhop@interhop.net $4"f monthly charge applies