Para hockey organizers fear loss of Montreal arena parking lot will make access difficult
Borough says a new community centre is needed and it is working on parking solutions
The director of Parahockey Montréal says players with reduced mobility already struggle to get all their equipment into arenas to play their beloved sport.
Now, the Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension borough's plan to turn the parking lot for the Howie-Morenz Arena into a community centre is going to make their lives a whole lot harder.
"With all the gear and sledge coming to the arena. Now it's OK, but imagine if we have to park on the street," said Maxime Gagnon. "Imagine, we'll have to cross the street. Sometimes they've got snow, they've got potholes and stuff like that, so that's gonna be a major problem for us."
Parahockey Montréal doesn't just rent the arena. The organization regularly hosts tournaments, inviting teams from other countries to participate, as it is one of only two arenas in the city with adequate accessibility.
In particular, parking close enough to the entrance is crucial. Parking is already at a premium in the arena's surrounding neighbourhood, meaning players may have to park at a considerable distance and lug in their gear if the borough goes through with its plan to construct a $36-million community centre.
If that happens, the hockey league will have to go elsewhere.
"We need parking, and during the winter, imagine athletes coming in wheelchairs with all the gear, with the sledge coming to the arena," said Gagnon.
Lack of access could deter players
It's not just Parahockey Montréal that is upset. The Association de Hockey Mineur de Villeray is also concerned. President Sylvain O'Reilly expects a substantial drop in players because it will be less convenient to access the arena.
O'Reilly said the city didn't consult arena users before making the decision. He started a petition as a result, which as of Tuesday has over 1,000 signatures.
"The fact that we were not consulted at all for two years, and given that we work with the city every week, they had the opportunity to tell us," said O'Reilly. Instead, he said the organizations only learned about the plan once everything was in place.
In an email, Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension Mayor Laurence Lavigne Lalonde said that the community centre is desperately needed in the area. She said roughly 14,000 people per month rely on local organizations for essential services.
All the essential community organizations that were housed at the William-Hingston School Centre in Parc-Extension will be evicted by the end of June, she explained. In the coming years, the community sector will need space to continue providing essential services to neighbourhood residents.
"We are very sensitive and conscious of the concerns raised by the hockey associations that use the Howie-Morenz Arena," she said.
Borough looking at options
She said the borough is looking at several options to address the accessible parking problem.
"The borough is evaluating various options to provide access to parking spaces near the arena," Lavigne Lalonde said.
"The existing parking drop-off area will also be preserved and redesigned to improve accessibility. Parking will also continue to be available on the surrounding streets."
She said adjustments to street parking regulations around the arena will be analyzed to optimize use.
"We firmly believe that the future community centre project has the potential to improve neighbourhood conditions by contributing to the transformation of living environments," she said.
"The borough is committed to supporting its implementation while ensuring a balance is maintained with the needs of all citizens in terms of access to sports facilities."
Written by Isaac Olson, with files from Gabrel Guindi