TRURO - Project officials hope to break ground this summer and open the $1.3-million, multi-use Cougar Dome in the fall.
Three members of the Cobequid Society of Athletic Excellence, which would run the new facility, made a presentation to Truro town council on Monday.
"I still firmly believe we'll break ground July 1st and have a grand opening in October," said Scott Annand.
"We just have to get our partners lined up," Ron Chisholm added following the presentation.
"We've got a real groundswell of support right now. It's just the organizational work to get all the ducks in a row in order to get this done."
He said it has about five funding partners and has had some very positive responses from them.
The project would see a new 50,000-square foot facility built on the Cobequid Educational Centre grounds near Colchester Legion Stadium. It would include eight indoor tennis courts, a field turf and synthetic track and would be the only one of its kind east of Montreal.
Many of those who spoke Monday emphasized the project would not be in competition, but would rather compliment, the civic centre as each facility would offer different sports.
Chisholm even suggested it might be time to switch Truro's nickname from Hubtown to Tournament Town because the new facilities would enable the region to host many different events. Those activities would attract people to town and create economic spinoffs.
The facility would be available to the public both before and after school as well as limited access during the day.
The impetus for the project dates back to December when a local family contacted Annand, a CEC teacher, about the athletic needs at the school and Truro area. They have made a "substantial" and "generous" donation towards the project. He said the Cougar Dome already has a good start on two big hurdles projects like this typically have in regards to the initial capital and land.
"This will be a phenomenal asset to the community," deputy mayor Brian Kinsman said.
The society has requested the town consider providing water and sewer services and provide snow clearing for the facility. It also would like to tap into the energy the town is trying to recover from the compressors used to make ice at Colchester Legion Stadium to heat the new facility.
Council did not make a decision on Monday regarding the requests.
jmalloy@trurodaily.com
