Arena, community centre is possible for Don Mills

Re: 'Dream for new Don Mills arena lives on,' News, Jan. 15.

Kudos to Councillor Cliff Jenkins for recognizing we are in need of an arena in the Don Mills core alongside a public community centre.

With a bit of imagination and goodwill, a public community complex complete with a community centre, twin arena and a park on the roof - second to none including the necessary parking underground and pedestrian bridge to the future LRT - could be located in the core area. That is if Cadillac Fairview's legal contribution of 0.7222 ha (1.78 acres) park space were added to the already existing 0.53 ha (1.31 acres) of the public arena lands.

The dilemma is:

a) The unwillingness of Cadillac Fairview to part with the parkland today instead of holding it in escrow for eight years and to provide it in front of the current arena, adjacent to Don Mills Road.

b) The city's fixation on looking outside the community, a corner lot and negative thinking on funding when there are possible funds from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, maybe Cadillac Fairview providing seed money to the tune of half of the promised $17 million and the Civitan Club as a fundraiser.

Karl Frank