Aldergrove Star, July 19, 2012

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ALDERGROVE SSTAR TAR Your Hometown Community Newspaper for over 54 Years

| Thursday, July 19, 2012

100th Aldergrove Fair Days is Here!

Check our website daily for updates, breaking news and more: www.aldergrovestar.com

Page 2: Tigers, giraffe arrive at the zoo

PAGE 11-19

Chilling Out in the Sun

Vandals hit sports field By KURT LANGMANN Aldergrove Star

HARRY HUNT PHOTO

Avery Baker, 9, enjoys paddling a few strokes at the popular Aldergrove outdoor pool.

Heat turned up for new pool By KURT LANGMANN Aldergrove Star

The Aldergrove Pool Committee is rallying community support again to push for Township council’s approval of a plan to construct a community recreation facility in this town. Committee spokesperson Joanne Nicolato says they will be hosting a booth at this weekend’s Aldergrove Fair Days to update citizens on the campaign and to encourage the public to attend Monday afternoon’s council meeting. The council meeting on July 23 at 4 p.m. at Township Hall will hear a report from the Township recreation department

on proposed plans for a community centre that could include a swimming pool, exercise rooms and a new ice arena. The council meeting is open to the public and Nicolato says it’s vital that Aldergrove residents turn up and show their support. On Monday council will receive a presentation by Bruce Carscadden and Glen Stokes of Bruce Carscadden Architect Inc. regarding the Aldergrove Community Centre that is proposed for the former Aldergrove Elementary School site on Fraser Highway. The consultants conducted a feasibility study to explore options for the construction of a multi-

use aquatic centre, ice arena, and community centre that would replace the aging Aldergrove Outdoor Pool and Aldergrove Community Arena. Council had directed staff to take the preferred concept plan and program from their 2007 study and provide an updated site analysis of this plan to conform to the Aldergrove Elementary School site, as well as provide cost estimates for design options. Heritage considerations are being made as well with respect to the original 1912 school building at the site. There have not been any further budget allocations made to this plan, but the SEE: Page 3

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The new all-weather “Astroturf” fields haven’t even been installed yet and already vandals are trying to destroy them. The two new sports fields at Aldergrove Athletic Park and Betty Gilbert Middle School had three holes burned into them on Sunday night, says Reid Mcdonald. He’s pleading for residents to keep an eye on the park and to call 9-1-1 if they spot any potential trouble in the park. Mcdonald, who has been leading public campaigns for the creation of the park and subsequent upgrades for several years, says it’s devastating to see all the hard work go up in flames. He says the Astroturf Canada contractors who have been working on the field project have been having problems with vandals smashing windows out of the heavy equipment, such as excavators, rollers and Bobcats parked at the site overnight. The eight foot tall perimeter fencing has frequently been pushed over too. However, on Sunday night the artificial turf fields were somehow torched in three places, and the crew had to spend Monday fitting new pieces in place of the burned sections. Vandals had also slashed open bags of materials, rubber and silica, that were meant for the second field. “This is a $1.3 million project that the community has committed to help the Township pay for,” says Mcdonald. “This will enable the youth in our community to play soccer year-round, without damaging the real turf fields.” Mcdonald said vandals had caused arson fires several years ago to the Rotary Field House at the park when it was under construction, but these problems had faded away in recent years. “I figured the kids must have grown up but it appears they’re back, or there’s a new crop of them,” says Mcdonald. Barring any catastrophes the first artificial turf field should be completed in 10 days and the second field by August 20.

HARRY HUNT PHOTO

A crew pulls new Astroturf into place at the new all-weather soccer field at Aldergrove Athletic Park last week. Two fields will have the material installed and ready for use by the end of summer.

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