Sportsplex reno could end Findlay Centre, councillor warns

A Dartmouth councillor fears the expansion of the Sportsplex will result in the closure of the popular Findlay Community Centre.

Gloria McCluskey says the centre provides services that the larger Sportsplex can't.

"It's the community centre, well used, and everything should stay there," she said.

A new report from Halifax Regional Municipality staff recommends closing the FindlayCommunity Centre, a move they say would make the Sportsplex busierand thusmore financially viable.

But McCluskey and area residents say the value of the FindlayCommunity Centre, just a few kilometres from the Sportsplex, goes beyond bricks and mortar.

"From preschoolers to the seniors club and everybody in between... single guys come down the street with their gym bags," said Nancy Roberts, who lives on Elliott Street, across from the community centre.

Other unique features of the facility include an outdoor horseshoe club and community garden.

The Sportsplexexpansion price tag is $22 million.City staff are wary of duplication and believe the Sportsplex could break even, faster, if the FindlayCommunity Centre closed.

They're hoping users of the centre will move to the Sportsplexand are floating the possibility that program fees might go down with larger classes.

Roberts, however, said the bigger Sportsplex would never replace everything at the FindlayCommunity Centre.

"There are other things like the pottery studio that I can't imagine that they could duplicate," she said.

The staff report will be discussed at a city committee meeting Thursday afternoon.