Community group pitches five-year plan to revive Blackstock Arena

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Initiative Reporter for The Standard

SCUGOG: A community-led vision, for the future of the Blackstock Arena, was brought before Township of Scugog council recently, as a delegation called on the municipality to partner with residents, to revitalize the aging facility and secure its long-term future.

Kirk Swain, Mike Blakey and Rob Harvey addressed council, at their meeting on Monday, December 9th, on behalf of the newly formed Blackstock Arena Planning and Development Committee. The group draws on experience from the former Blackstock Recreation Advisory Committee and other local organizations, and has been created to focus specifically on long-term planning and infrastructure renewal at the arena.

“We’re really trying to form a partnership between the Township and the community,” Mr. Swain told council. “The Blackstock Arena is incredibly important for recreation opportunities for all ages, in and around our community.”

The delegation outlined a proposed five-year plan which would combine fundraising, user registration fees, grant applications and collaboration with Township staff. The first phase of the plan focuses on replacing the arena’s refrigeration system with a modern, scalable unit which could support future expansion.

Mr. Blakey said, the committee is prepared to fund raise $200,000 over five years, toward the approximately $1 million cost of a new refrigeration unit. “This is about rebuilding and revitalizing the infrastructure at Blackstock Arena,” he said. “The refrigeration unit would be scalable, with our ultimate goal being a full-sized ice surface in Blackstock.”

Looking further ahead, Mr. Blakey explained the next stage of the plan would focus on bringing full-sized ice surface to the community, once core infrastructure improvements are in place. He added, local user groups are supportive of increased registration fees, if those funds are directed back into recreation infrastructure, and the committee is actively pursuing grant opportunities, with several applications already underway. “We want to have a healthy long-term relationship, to keep Blackstock Arena thriving and developing,” he said.

Council members asked a number of questions, following the presentation, seeking clarification on the committee’s specific ask of council, the anticipated lifespan of the existing building, over the five-year period, maintenance requirements, potential future uses, portable solutions, levels of community participation and the sustainability of fundraising efforts.

Mayor Wilma Wotten addressed those in attendance and voiced her support for the project, acknowledging both the passion behind the proposal and the importance of the arena to the community.

Councillor Robert Rock thanked the delegation for its enthusiasm but expressed some hesitation. “I appreciate the passion for the community,” he said, “but I do have lingering concerns about whether the building will remain usable over the next five years.”

Following discussion, council voted to receive the delegation and refer the matter to staff, for further consideration. The motion, moved by Councillor Harold Wright and seconded by Councillor Terry Coyne, directs staff to explore the establishment of a partnership between the Township and the Blackstock Arena Planning and Development Committee, with the objective of revitalizing the Blackstock Arena. Staff are expected to report back to council early in 2026.

Director of Public Works and Recreation, Grant Taylor noted, a further staff report is anticipated, as early as February, which would provide council with additional information on the feasibility of the proposed partnership and potential next steps.