Perth council received a staff request to support, in principle, a proposal to add a roof over the Town’s outdoor sport court at 1881 Rogers Road, commonly known as the Fire Hall Rink.The recommendation was to explore construction of a roof structure over the existing four-season pad.
In addition the FireDawgs community group was looking for permission to begin formal fundraising and preliminary planning, including concept drawings and contractor engagement. Perth councillor Isabel Anne McRae was in support of the proposal.
The sport court was approved by Council in 2021 and has since become a heavily used community asset. It supports winter skating and recreational hockey, along with summer basketball, ball hockey and rollerblading programs.
Supporters say a roof would extend the life of the boards and pad, improve ice quality, reduce snow removal demands, provide shade in summer and allow for enhanced lighting.
It could also reduce winter maintenance time, which is currently focused largely on clearing snow rather than preparing ice.
McRae noted that with climate change, some protection shade would be beneficial.
Nomunicipal funding was being requested.
If approved in principle, the FireDawgs would return to Council with engineered drawings, permit details and a full proposal before any construction begins. Council’s committee voted to approve the proposal.
Story by Brian Turner