Needham recreation centre essential: councillor
Last Updated: Tuesday, November 24, 2009 | 8:54 AM AT
CBC News
Residents of north-end Halifax are ready to fight to keep their beloved recreation centre, the local councillor says.
Jerry Blumenthal has launched a petition to save Needham Centre, even though there are no immediate plans to shut it down.
"People don't want to lose their local facilities," he told CBC News on Tuesday.
About 150 people, including several politicians, gathered in the centre's gym on Monday night to discuss the municipally owned facility — one of six on the peninsula under review.
According to a consultant, Needham isn't accessible enough for seniors and people with disabilities, and should be decommissioned. The main solution is to build a bigger, multi-purpose facility to serve a larger area.
No decision has been made to close Needham and the other centres on the list. The review is expected to wrap up by April.
Blumenthal believes the municipality should spend the money to upgrade Needham, such as putting in elevators and renovating the swimming pool.
"If you don't have small community centres, what's going to happen to the kids in these areas?" he said at Monday night's public meeting.
Like many at the gathering, Elaine Williams wants her centre and its various programs to remain nearby.
"When my grandkids come here I know that just down over the hill they're going to get home. We don't want our kids going out of our community," Williams said.
Blumenthal said he plans on speaking with Halifax Mayor Peter Kelly and the municipality's senior managers about the importance of the neighbourhood facility.
