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•T he IF P• H al to n H ill s •T hu rs d ay , F eb ru ar y 27 , 2 01 4 8 Monday MARCH 10 : noon - 3pm Tuesday MARCH 11 : noon - 3pm Wednesday MARCH 12 : noon & 2pm Thursday MARCH 13 : noon & 2pm FrIday MARCH 14 : noon - 3pm My Georgetown Market Place 280 Guelph St. - Hwy. 7 Georgetown Visit our Website: www.georgetownmarketplace.com Tel. 905-873-8918 March Break Events all events Located at Centre Court The Acton Arena and Community Cen- tre expansion is one step closer to fruition with Halton Hills Council members giv- ing the architect the go-ahead Monday evening to move forward with detailed design of the $12.4 million project. Construction of the 45,000 sq. ft. ex- pansion (second ice pad) is expected to start in May and be completed next Sep- tember (2015). At the meeting, Town Staff informed council that the original plan to build the twin ice pad in an end-to-end design go- ing north, has changed on the proposed site plan. The plan now calls for the new arena pad to be built west to east in a T-design. Due to that new design, the 3 Musketears Skate Park would have to be relocated. In a staff report it was stated the refined site plan provides a full circulation route around the building and evenly dispersed parking, limits the impact on sports fields north of the site by integrating storm wa- ter management techniques with below parking surface storage systems, allows for improved building connections to the adjacent Acton Sports Park, provides for outdoor accessible washrooms and a storage area and integrates the new skate park with a possible future expansion of a multi-purpose court that could be used for basketball, ball hockey or potentially an outdoor rink. The report states the T-design configu- ration allows for "a better and more effi- cient building program." Due to the design, extensive structural adjustments and remedial work that was expected to be needed under the end-to- end design wouldn't be required. It also allows for a more efficient and economical elevator, and the previous design option would have required the public go through service components of the arena to get to seating and dressing rooms. It was stated the design provides the opportunity "for a clearly articulated ac- cess between the building, parking lots, pedestrian walkways and the sports fields allowing for better and safer community access." The Acton Arena Steering Committee was informed of the T-design rationale in November. The committee supported go- ing forward with it, subject to consulting with the families associated with naming of the 3 Musketears Skate Park. Mayor Rick Bonnette, councillors and staff met with those families and they agreed with the need to relocate the skate park, the report stated. Town staff looked at two different loca- tions for the skate park-- one at the south end near Hwy. 7 in the existing parking area, and another at the rear of the expan- sion (the north end) adjacent to Tanners Dr. Park. Staff's preferred location is the north option. Warren Harris said that location is preferred because, "it's important there is adequate elbow room, " and it provides more space to accommodate both the skate park and multi-purpose court. He said it offers better and safer buffer areas, less vehicle conflicts with skaters, is closer to the sidewalk and trail linkages and is a safer distance from main roads. Harris said the plan is to close the skate park in late May with public consultation set for May/June. Construction on the skate park is to begin next April (2015) with completion for September 2015. Harris said the Town is looking to pro- vide a temporary skate park option this summer. Councillor Mike O'Leary asked that residents on Tanners Dr., Bonnette St. and Somerville Rd. receive notices about the public consultation on the skate park. "I want to make sure that neighbour- hood is well informed, even to the point of perhaps sending out a special notice," said O'Leary. Harris confirmed they would be noti- fied. Bonnette added the final location of the skate park has not yet been decided. Town staff is to report back to Council on the skate park development program, temporary facility and a potential joint partnership for the multi-purpose court. The 3 Musketears Fundraising Com- mittee has been continuing to fundraise with the hope of constructing a multi- purpose court in Acton. The report is expected to be ratified at the next council meeting (March 17). By LISA TALLYN Staff Writer Acton Arena plans get green light