The local speed skating club’s request for a speed skating oval at the Banff recreation grounds appears to be on the long track.
A speed skating track oval is not specifically listed as a project in the new redevelopment plan for the recreation grounds, but it’s been suggested the speed skating community develop a business case for a potential 400-metre track over the rugby-soccer field.
At a meeting Monday (March 23), members of the Banff-Canmore Speed Skating Club asked Banff town council to consider a joint partnership with the club to allow the flooding, in winter, of an oval on the field.
“We want to request a potential long track skating oval be included in phase one of the plan,” said Joey O’Brien of the Banff-Canmore Speed Skating Club. “This would primarily be a recreation facility, not a professional facility.”
Key recommendations in the new redevelopment plan for the recreation grounds include a permanent skateboard park, a children’s adventure playground, skating rink, construction of amenities building, removal of the running track and increasing the size of the rugby-soccer field.
Projects currently listed in the plan would cost between $7.9 million and $8.9 million to implement over the next 10 to 15 years.
Administration intends to bring a revised capital budget plan for the recreation grounds to council during the next budget cycle this fall, with accurate costs for the entire project over the next 10 to 15 years, and further recommendations on phases.
Councillor Stavros Karlos said he was not prepared to shift projects in the plan to include a speed skating oval in phase one at this point, noting specific projects will form part of future budget discussions.
“Obviously I’m interested if you can provide a business case,” he said. “Banff has an insatiable thirst for ice. Any time we dump ice, it gets busy.”
There are many different models for operation of speed skating tracks across the country, from fully municipality-run, as in Winnipeg, to a completely volunteer driven facility such as in Fort St. John.
O’Brien said one of the intended legacies of the 2014 Banff Canmore Alberta Winter Games was a long track in the Bow Valley.
He said a functional long track oval in Banff could strengthen a future Bow Valley winter games bid, and could also attract other competitive events to the community.
“We’ve asked for the winter games to be returned in 2020,” he said.
According to the redevelopment plan for the recreation grounds, a business case should, among other things, include the number of speed skaters that are likely to use the site on a regular basis, and the frequency of organized practices and competitions.
It would also determine the potential frequency of events and the approximate number of additional skaters and spectators that would attend, as well as look at the likelihood of these events being brought to Banff.
The costs of construction and ongoing maintenance would also be investigated.
Mayor Karen Sorensen said decisions around the various projects will be made during budget discussions.
“We’re not in a position to make a motion to say, ‘Yeah, let’s go!’” she said. “But stay in touch with administration.”
