Spring Valley Arena targeted for closure in city plan

A twin pad for Morgan Firestone Arena coupled with a rejuvenated Spring Valley Arena is still the best plan for Ancaster Minor Hockey League.
Although no time line has been set for the planned expansion of Morgan Firestone Arena, when the new twin pad facility opens, it is expected to force the closure of Spring Valley Arena on Orchard Drive.
Diane Lapointe Kay, city recreation director, said the city will streamline its operations by closing Spring Valley. A feasibility study for the Morgan Firestone Arena twinning has already been completed.
“The ideal situation would be to close Spring Valley Arena for hockey to amalgamate the uses at one facility,” Ms. Lapointe Kay said.
Meanwhile, the timing of the Morgan Firestone expansion plan remains uncertain. Last week, Hamilton councillors voted not to include the arena expansion among a list of projects eligible for government stimulus funding. The total cost of the twin pad is $13 million.
Dean Morrow, president of the Ancaster Minor Hockey League, wants to continue using Spring Valley Arena after the Morgan Firestone expansion is complete. With some minor roof upgrades and renovated dressing rooms, Mr. Morrow believes the aging arena would still have plenty to offer. The AMHL has long advocated for greater access to ice time in Ancaster, to mitigate the need to rent ice time outside the community.
“What good does it do anybody to close one arena and open another?” Mr. Morrow said.
Last year, an independent consultant recommended closing Spring Valley Arena, coupled with the a second ice surface at Morgan Firestone, as part of a long-term renewal and construction plan for Hamilton's recreational facilities. The report suggested a timeline somewhere between 2012 and 2016.
Spring Valley Arena has a long and storied history. Built decades ago by a local community group, the arena was transferred from the Spring Valley Community Association to the Town of Ancaster in 1966. Following amalgamation in 2001, ownership reverted to the City of Hamilton. Today the Spring Valley Community Association still operates a canteen and sponsors sports teams.