Friday, September 27, 2024 3Brooklin Town Crier Our last issue's front page featured the latest photos of the new sports complex. With it was a quote from John Romano, Whitby's Commissioner of Community Services, who stated the project is moving along on time. The facility is due to open around December of 2025. Coincidentally, the Winchester road construction is slated to be done around then as well. There will, however, be a direct and important spinoff of the complex's completion. What will happen to the 50-year old Luther Vipond Memorial Arena, which will have long since passed its best before date? Further to that, what are the plans to address recreation facilities in and around the arena building which is slated to be repurposed? This is a key recreation consideration as Whitby residents have indicated loud and clear what they would like to see more of in the town. (See "Top 10 Requested Parks and Recreation Opportunities") The wishlist is especially significant given the local housing increases over the next few years. The new complex's modern multi-faceted facilities will certainly be the main attraction. But what changes occur to Vipond and its surroundings will need to complement it. Last May, the town published its Parks and Recreation Master plan, a 179-page draft document that addresses the town's needs and residents' wants (from surveys) in great detail. (https://connectwhitby. ca/32768/widgets/152551/ documents/129865). It is hoped the report will go to council sometime before this Christmas. As far as the Vipond area is concerned, there will likely be more community engagement about the repurposed building and surroundings. The report has already recognized some of the following considerations (in no particular order): splash pad refrigerated outdoor rink revamped playground indoor (in the Vipond building) pickleball courts, meeting rooms, etc. basketball courts Another item to consider is the large space behind the fenced ball diamond that stretches around the entire outfield. It might be perfect for basketball surfaces and/or mini soccer fields. Moreover, the current cricket pitch would be safer (as players have indicated) if the grounds were leveled. The extensive and well researched report states, with respect to Vipond, "While the arena is aging, the facility is an important asset for the Brooklin Agricultural Society, who has hosted the annual Brooklin Spring Fair at the current location for over a century. The arena building is used for several events during the fair, including opening ceremonies, competitions (e.g., spelling bee), shows (including live music), dances, arts and crafts sales, displays, and more. Maintaining access to this facility in some form is vital to ensure that a venue is available to support this local event, as well as broader indoor programming and rental needs throughout the year. A facility renewal strategy for the Luther Vipond Memorial Arena should be prepared to update and modernize the building for year-round use. Consultation with the public and community stakeholders should form part of this process and may be undertaken in coordination with the broader visioning exercise for Brooklin Memorial Park. As to cost, the report says, "The Town's 10-year capital forecast identifies over $27 million to replace aging infrastructure at Whitby's community facilities, including the Brooklin Community Centre and Library, Civic Recreation Complex, Iroquois Park Sports Centre, Luther Vipond Memorial Arena and McKinney Centre. This amount also includes over $10 million towards repurposing the Luther Vipond Memorial Arena to address growth-related needs." On this page, we've included some of the report's key research findings that might impact the Vipond facility. Less than half the picture: The Future of Vipond By Richard Bercuson