Arrowdale and Northridge to get name changes

Name changes for two city facilities were given conditional approval Monday, while one was tossed for further review by council and the parks, recreation and waterfront advisory committee.

Once confirmed by council, the Arrowdale Public Golf Course will be known as the Arrowdale Municipal Golf Course, with the Northridge Municipal Golf Club becoming the Northridge Municipal Golf Club and Learning Centre.

Golf manager Jeff Moore and management board chair Bill Austin explained the changes to councillors Monday, noting that the reintroduction of the word municipal at Arrowdale helps differentiate it from other golf courses in the region. The addition of the learning centre to Northridge also emphasizes some of the changes in programming and layout at the course undertaken since Moore was hired.

This includes the expansion of the driving range at Northridge and the renovation of grass tee decks and target greens, along with new programs aimed at teaching the activity such as the junior golf academy.

Moore said existing letterhead and other printed materials at both facilities would be exhausted prior to ordering new material with the revised names. When it comes to the signs at the facilities, Moore said these would be replaced as part of a pending five-year capital works plan.

“The signs are dated,” Moore said, later answering the cost to replace the signs would likely be over $30,000 when the time comes. The answer came with much guffawing around the council table as Austin joked it wouldn’t cost $108,000– a reference to the cost to replace new signs at the Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre approved by council last year.

Ward 3 Coun. Dan McCreary was alone in his opposition to replace the signs, telling Moore while he has no objection to the name changes and is appreciative of the changes in how the courses are being run, he couldn’t support spending money to change signage.

“I don’t know if I’ll be supportive of that capital item when it comes forward. While I’m pleased it won’t hit $108,000, I’m not sure taxpayers would appreciate any additional cost on levy,” McCreary said.

The name change that didn’t come forward was one for the Bellview Hall on Tom Street, with the advisory board recommendation it be changed to Bob Verge/Bellview Community Hall in honour of Verge, a longtime volunteer and former members of that body. Ward 1 Coun. Larry Kings moved the item be referred to an in-camera meeting and further review by the advisory committee.

About half a dozen people opposed to the proposed change at Bellview attended Monday’s meeting to witness councillors deal with that item.
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