By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
From Ron Smith’s seven-page letter of suggestions for the Town of Cobourg, Councillor Emily Chorley declared at this week’s council meeting that two of them are worth keeping track of.
As a result of her motion, his remarks concerning the decommissioned Cobourg Memorial Arena will be referred to the Memorial Arena ad hoc committee that is still being formed.
And his thoughts on the Victoria Park trailer park should be referred to the 2022 budget process, where it is anticipated they will be making investments in this asset.
Smith’s thought was that the former arena might be of use as a shared community hub, to be purchased by various entities of Cobourg’s arts and culture community for a nominal price.
Smith decried the $750,000 budget item for upgrades to the trailer park and argued for its replacement by a waterfront boutique hotel and restaurant. Proceeds could go into a specifically created Cobourg Waterfront Community Endowment Fund. And he estimates this year-round use of the site could create up to 75 jobs.