(Issued April 28, 2022) – The Town of Cobourg's Community Services Division in partnership with the Communications Department is pleased to announce the launch of the ‘What’s Next for the Memorial Arena?’ project on Engage Cobourg, an online public engagement platform designed to gather feedback and comments from residents.
This new public engagement project is seeking community input to assist the Town in reimagining the future use of the Memorial Arena. Following the decommissioning of the Memorial Arena in 2019, Cobourg Municipal Council struck the Memorial Arena Ad-Hoc Committee to assist the Town with this project. The public engagement objective for the ‘What’s Next for the Memorial Arena?’ project is to inform residents of the Committee’s mandate and work being done and to gather feedback from residents including questions, comments and ideas for the site.
Background
The Cobourg Memorial Arena was built, approximately, in 1949 with a portion rebuilt in 1952 after it was destroyed by fire. Additions to the main building took place in 1992 and 1997. This arena is not considered accessible by current standards as outlined in the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).
A Condition Assessment of the Memorial Arena was completed by Pinchin Ltd, in February 2018 as part of the Town of Cobourg's asset management plan. This report included specialist reviews of the mechanical, electrical, fire and life safety systems, AODA and code compliance. As detailed in the Pinchin report, the Memorial Arena would require significant repairs and improvements to infrastructure including enhancements to accessibility to continue operation in a similar capacity. Both arena buildings have solar panel installations on the roof that are connected together and to the grid. The solar installation contract term runs until September 17, 2035.
In 2018, the Pinchin report estimated $6,127,195 in immediate and long-term repairs to maintain the building for its present function in 2018. Given the future capital costs, the challenges of bringing the facility into AODA compliance and the low utilization, the Memorial Arena was decommissioned as an arena in 2019. The operating costs for the Memorial Arena and site in 2022 are $102,250.
How to Participate on Engage Cobourg
Share your thoughts on the future use of the Memorial Arena:
Visit engagecobourg.ca to view the complete public engagement project and to learn more.
Register on Engage Cobourg Today!
Residents of the Town of Cobourg are encouraged to create a profile online and participate in current public engagement projects. To register on Engage Cobourg visit www.engagecobourg.ca and click the Register Today! button. For questions or help registering please email communications@cobourg.ca.