C5

BRUCE BARTLETT
TELEGRAPH-JOURNAL

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SAINT JOHN - Ideas for developing land on the lower west side for recreational use behind the Carleton Community Centre were presented to the Saint John West Business Association Tuesday night.

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KâtÈ Braydon/Telegraph-Journal

Mary Anne O'Hara, from the Lancaster Recording Studio, speaks at the Saint John West Business Association's meeting on Tuesday night.

John Campbell, and a small group of locals, along with members of the International Longshoremen's Association recently cleaned up a large part of the area between Market Place and the port as it runs toward Saint John Street.

"The city provided the trucks and hauled away about 90 per cent of the garbage," Campbell said.

He outlined a number of uses for the land, including a soccer field for young players or an outdoor rink with an in-ground ice plant that could be converted to skateboarding in the summer and possibly volleyball courts to take over from the ones that will be closed near Market Square when the Coast Guard site is redeveloped uptown.

"Along that stretch most of the land is owned by the port, primarily," he said. "The port has agreed to hand that over for recreational use."

Campbell said the plan to put in an ice surface could ease hockey scheduling problems in Saint John because in many other communities across North America refrigerated ice surfaces are only covered by a roof. That reduces the costs considerably.

Outdoor rinks in many Canadian cities are converted to skateboard parks with the addition of ramps and jumps that can be moved in and out and purchased for around $31,000, he said.

"Toronto has a number of them," he said.

There is also an old park along that part of Market Place that has fallen into disuse. "We have advocated (to the city) rededicating that park in honour of the International Longshoremen because their role and their commitment to that community goes back generations," Campbell said.

There is also enough land in that area to put in a tennis court and a BMX bike track. "We are trying to develop it so families can use it regardless of ages," he said.

There's already a ball diamond at the far end of the area that has been on port lands for years. It would remain, he said.

If the park gets built then it could be hooked into Harbour Passage, which long-term plans have called for its extension all the way to Fort Dufferin and the outlook to Partridge Island.

Campbell is hopeful that money can be found from many sources including the city and businesses, which was why he made the presentation to the association, warning its members that he will be asking for money in the future.

Members of the association also heard that the West Side Santa Claus Parade, planned for Nov. 21, has 91 entries, up from 72 last year. It will be the only parade televised in Saint John by Rogers this year.

The parade will end at the new plaza beside Sobeys instead of the Lancaster Mall, which organizers and police now believe is too busy to handle all the floats.