Chatham-Kent will be moving ahead with developing a plan to upgrade the arena at the Wheatley Area Recreation Complex.
At a council meeting on Monday, members voted in favour of having administration come up with a plan to rejuvenate the aging facility to be more accessible, welcoming, and inspiring to Wheatley residents.
The arena has been the only spot for residents to gather since the downtown explosion in August of 2021 closed the Wheatley Legion Hall and the Car Barn Hall."Those were the only two other buildings that were spacious enough to rent and gather as a community," said Councillor Lauren Anderson.
The goal is to improve the accessibility, aesthetics, and overall experience of patrons, according to Anderson.
"It's the year 2023, I think providing a space in the municipality that's accessible to everybody is important and I think as far as it goes to Wheatley and the citizens of Wheatley, we need a place to gather that everyone can gather at. I think this is the best way to do it," said Andreson.
As an advocate for all minor sports in the municipality, Councillor Anthony Ceccacci mentioned that many arenas across the municipality could benefit from upgrades.
"I've seen the same struggle at multiple arenas throughout this season especially," said Ceccacci. "I am just curious how we're going to be identifying one only if it's going to be something that's going to be a lens that we're looking at the communities."
Concerned with the idea of kicking one arena to the front of the line before getting to a capital project, Councillor Brock McGregor said he felt it was difficult to prioritize one arena over others.
"It's not to say it doesn't deserve that and it's not to say that it's not an important thing to be doing, but we have these challenges really across the board," said McGregor.
Councillor Anderson acknowledged that she might be asking for some special treatment but said the town needs a space that residents could be proud of.
"I am asking for it to go to the top of the line but I don't think it is an unreasonable ask," said Anderson.
Administration will consult with the public and develop a plan for "achievable improvements" to Wheatley Arena over the short and medium term.