Facility Update

On June 30th 2010, several members of the HCA Board of Directors met with City of Calgary Parks and Planning representatives to discuss the proposed facility planned for Hawkstone Park.  The meeting went well and we came away with a clearer picture of what obstacles may lay ahead for us.  The most contentious issue is parking and the City’s desire to have a parking lot built.  It is HCA’s position that on-street parking is sufficient and building a new parking lot would incur many more negative issues such as costs to maintain, crime, loitering, etc.  The Facility Committee has always tried to strike an even balance between needs of the Hawkwood Community, potential concerns of nearby residents and long-term sustainability of the facility.  Our efforts have been stalled as of late - for a number of reasons - but we maintain that our goal is to have a year-round outdoor recreational facility built within the next 2-3 years.  Stay tuned to the Hawk Eye and our website for more updates.

Casino Funds

I have heard of questions relating to the regular casinos that we volunteer for and receive funds for.  “What are the funds for?”, “Why am I volunteering?” and “Are those funds going to disappear?” are the most common questions.  Simply put, the funds that are generated from these casinos are placed in a “restricted” fund for HCA to use in the building of a facility.  After the last casino, HCA will have just over $400,000 of restricted funds for this facility.  Now, the Alberta Gaming & Liquor Commission (AGLC) has made some changes to the way these funds can be spent by the community, so it is more important than ever to continue with the casino fundraising strategy in the future.  It is true that  these funds have a limited time for them to be spent, and that the HCA has been granted extensions by the AGLC to extend this time period.  There is a possibility that some of these funds will not be extended any longer and we will lose those monies at the end of 2010.  We are cautiously optimistic that we can continue to demonstrate that we are moving forward with a concrete plan for a facility and that this proposal will grant us an additional extension on the funds.

Project Manager

One of the primary issues relating to the delay in the progress of our facility is the lack of person with the drive and skill set to see this project through to the end.  Therefore, we are looking for a person or firm that can help HCA expedite the project through the various planning and development stages.  Do you know of someone who can commit some time and effort to deal with the City and the various departments, apply for the various grants available, coordinate landscaping and architectural plans, facilitate cost estimates, select contractors and oversee the construction of the facility (among other things!)?  If so, HCA is willing to speak to you and engage your services to help see our project through to the end.  Drop me a line a president@hawkwoodcalgary.com if you know someone who can help.

If you have any questions, please contact the Facility Committee