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Gymnastics club will adjoin new arena

Jorge Barrera
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Aug 29/01) - A city athletics club scrambling to raise funds for a new building can now rest easy because the city is allowing them to build an addition to a new arena in a move that will not only save the club money, but give it a new lease on life.



The Yellowknife Gymnastics Club's Stacey Bengts midway through a floor route in May. - Robert Dall/NNSL photo



The City of Yellowknife and the Yellowknife Gymnastics Club are hashing out the details of building an addition to the front of a new arena scheduled for construction at the Yellowknife Correctional Centre site.

If everything works out the club will manage the use of their building and will lock into a long term lease with the city.

The exact costs of the deal -- which will see the club foot the bill for the addition -- is still up in the air.

Grant White, community services director with the city, said both parties are trying to come to a compromise.

"There's a difference of opinion," said White.

Club president, Elaine Keenan Bengts, said building an addition to the arena instead of a stand alone building will considerably cut costs for the club.

"Now it will be much easier to finance the balance," said Keenan Bengts.

Keenan Bengts figures the club only needs to raise a further $150,000, half of what they originally expected.

The club planned to build its facility beside the Ruth Inch Memorial pool on land given to them by the city. But the projected $800,000 cost for a new building proved to be a target that became difficult to meet.

The club raised $500,000 over two years. This spring the club ran a high profile raffle for a Hummer sports utility vehicle and managed to raise $20,000.

But the club hit a wall trying to raise the remaining $300,000 and approached city council last month for help.

Then the wheels began to turn and a deal was put on the table.

At that point the club was racing against time.

The club's current building on Old Airport Rd. is on the block and according to the city it was garnering some interest.

But fortune turned.

"We're thrilled to death," said Keenan Bengts.

Yellowknife Mayor Gord Van Tighem said the arena is taking on a community flavour.

"From our side it moves (the arena) toward a community complex," said Van Tighem.

White said there are other parties interested in latching on to the new arena including the Department of National Defence and Sport North.

He said things should be finalized by next week.

The arena is scheduled for completion by September 2002.