By Michael MacDonald
WOODSTOCK – The Town of Woodstock is planning for the future
with a strategy to expand important community infrastructure, including the
Carleton Civic Centre. In partnership with government, town council and the
Woodstock Rotary Club are working through the development phase with plans to improve
the L.P. Fisher Library and the Woodstock High School theatre as well.
“It’s very, very exciting,” said Woodstock Mayor Arthur
Slipp. “It’s going to continue the momentum that we’ve had on regional economic
development and growth opportunities.
“The town has basically outgrown the current facilities that
we have. It’s been a tremendous economic development tool for the area. Not
just for the town of Woodstock, but for the Woodstock region as well. We see
this showing up in economic development and we’re very concerned about the
future of the community.”
Mayor Slipp said once town council has government approval,
they would be approaching their partners and the local service districts to
talk about the contents of the expansions, as well as funding for operational
expenses of the civic centre.
There are three aspects to the expansion: health and
wellness, literacy and arts and culture. Proposed expansions to the civic centre
fall under health and wellness, where plans include increasing seating from 800
to between 1800 and 2000. Another major aspect of health and wellness includes
a field house, a large heated open-concept space for indoor soccer, basketball,
track and field, gymnastics, martial arts and other activities and events, such
as small tradeshows. The expansion committee is also planning to improve fitness
center facilities, as well as increasing the size of general community and
meeting space.
Improvements to the L.P. Fisher Library fall under literacy.
An analysis was conducted that noted specific needs: these included improved
entrances, extra space for staff and storage, as well as room to allow for
better access of computers. As well, it was decided an area was needed to
display two important collections of the library, the Raymond Collection and
the Dalton Camp Canadiana Collection. These needs culminated in a plan to build
a large two-floor open concept space at the rear of the existing building.
The third aspect, arts and culture, involves plans to
improve the high school theatre for better community access. The town decided
it was prudent to improve on existing facilities, rather than building a brand
new theatre. They plan to increase the size of the stage, as well as building a
new entrance for easier access. Plans also exist for green rooms, dressing
rooms and storage areas.
“We’re at the stage now where we’re getting proposals from
architectural firms,” said Ken Harding, Chief Administrative Officer for the
Town of Woodstock. “We’re waiting to see what that might look like, but we’re
getting ideas from architects as to how those projects might evolve.”
Harding explained the project is a proposed $12 million
dollar undertaking. Funding for all three aspects of the expansion is being
divided three ways, between the federal, provincial and municipal levels of
government. The town is also dividing their $4 million dollar municipal share
two ways with the Woodstock Rotary Club.
“One of the best things to hear was the impact on economic
development. We heard from larger companies that it was a great recruiting
tool,” said Harding.
“When people were looking to move into the area, with young
families, they want amenities, and we had amenities in a small town that were
equal to what a lot of larger towns they were coming from had. They were quite
amazed when they saw what we had to offer for sports and recreation.”
Blaine Tompkins lives in Jacksonville and is an instructor
at NBCC Woodstock, as well as the Educational Director for the Woodstock
Slammers. He said even though the expansions probably won’t be complete in time
for his children, he’s happy to support these types of projects.
“As a taxpayer, I’m glad to see that some infrastructure for
our town is being improved. I think we spend a lot of our tax money on things
we need, but sometimes the things that are important to the youth, and
important beyond the everyday grind of life, are always the last ones to get
addressed,” said Tompkins. “I’m glad to see that this is being addressed by the
town.”
But all of these improvements do come with a price tag. The
Town of Woodstock spends about $600,000 dollars annually on civic centre
operating costs. When the centre was built, the town consulted with the local
service districts (LSDs) around the municipality in an effort to raise funds.
Seven LSDs, Woodstock, Lower Wakefield, North Hampton, Upper/Lower North
Hampton, Inner Debec, Outer Debec and Richmond, all committed two cents on
every dollar towards operating costs. Because operating costs will increase
after the expansion, the town will be looking to these partners for additional
support.
“Once the project announcement has been made, one of our
steps will be to meet with each of the LSDs after we’ve arrived at a new figure
for support,” said Mayor Slipp.
“Then we can discuss, with the surrounding LSDs, to make
sure that it is a number that they’re comfortable with, that will also allow us
to deal with the operation expenses at the civic center. And that’s the only
component that we’re asking them to fund – just the operating expenses at the
civic center.”
Jeff Wright of Wright’s Esso sits on the expansion
committee. He also served as mayor when the idea to expand the centre was first
discussed. Wright said the cost to people living in the service districts is
not significant compared to what they are getting.
“I know a lot of people within the service districts will
say they don’t want their taxes raised because of something that’s going on in
the town of Woodstock,” said Wright. “But to be perfectly honest with you, when
the civic center was put there to begin with, they all benefitted from the
civic centre.
“But at the end of the day, every household in the local
service district would be probably paying in anywhere from $50 to $100 dollars
a year for the civic centre, and I don’t think that’s an unreal amount of money
for what they’re getting.”
Scott Dunlop owns and operates Homezone Electronics in
Woodstock and Florenceville, and is a member of the Rotary Club. He also sits
on the expansion committee. He said these plans are very important for the
community.
“If you talk to a real estate agent, they will tell you that
when someone comes to McCain’s, or Barrett’s or Sabian, they all tell you the
same thing. One of the first things they ask is what is there here for my son
or daughter to do,” said Dunlop.
“That alone speaks volumes to why it’s important to have it
in our community. And I would still like to have the thought that rural NB is
shrinking, urban NB is growing, and we’re in the middle. We’re a small town,
but unless we grow what we offer, we could start to go the other way.”
Dunlop said they hope to be able to make a public
announcement soon.
“We think that we’ll have
some announcements very soon, hopefully by April.”
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