Jim Durrell Recreation Centre

Jim Durrell Recreation Centre
Location 1265 Walkley Road,
Ottawa, Ontario K1V 6P9
Coordinates 45°22′23″N 75°39′32″W / 45.373096°N 75.658808°W / 45.373096; -75.658808
Owner City of Ottawa
Operator City of Ottawa
Capacity 2,000 Peplinski Arena
200 Walkley Arena
Surface Dual-pad, Multi-surface
Peplinski Arena
Walkley Arena
Construction
Broke ground November 16, 1962
Construction cost $217,200
Architect J.L. Richards and Associates
General contractor Abel Construction
Tenants
Ottawa Jr. Senators

The Jim Durrell Recreation Centre is a multi-purpose dual-pad arena in Ottawa, Ontario. It is located in the south end of the city on Walkley road close to the intersection of Bank street. The Ottawa Jr. Senators of the Central Canada Hockey League are its primary tenant.

History

The Jim Durrell Recreation Centre started off as the Walkley Arena. It was the second City of Ottawa owned arena after the Elmgrove Park Arena in the west end. City council debated on whether to build two arenas but ultimately decided to start with the one on Walkley first and then build their third arena on a lot they owned at the intersections of Chamberlain and Lyon.[1] Initial costs for the ne arena were to be $170,000 but increased by $30,000 by November 1962 when work began.[2] Strangely enough, the City saved somewhere between $5,000 to $15,000 by not installing showers in the four dressing rooms.[3] The contract was awarded to Abel Construction,[4] and the architectural firm was J.L. Richards and Associates.[5] Several names were proposed for the new arena, among them were, Senator's Memorial Arena, Colonel By Arena and Billings Arena,[6] the Silver Seven Stadium (to commemorate the Silver Seven hockey team which won the Stanley Cup in 1903, 1904 and 1905),[7] but it was eventually decided to simply keep it as Walkley Arena.[8]

In January 1984, 300 residents of Ottawa South presented the a petition to city planners requesting a new arena be built to help with the 2000 hockey and ringette players and figure skaters. Ald. Brian Bourns considered a $2-to $3-million arena far too expensive and thought doubling Walkley Arena was the better solution.[9]

References

  1. ↑ "Pave Way For Walkley Road Arena", The Ottawa Evening Journal, p. 1, April 30, 1962, retrieved July 29, 2014
  2. ↑ "Mayor Turns Sod At Walkley Road Arena", The Ottawa Evening Journal, p. 2, November 13, 1962, retrieved July 29, 2014
  3. ↑ "Turn of solitary sod marks start on arena", The Ottawa Citizen, p. 25, November 13, 1962, retrieved July 29, 2014
  4. ↑ "Walkley Road Rink Contract Goes to Abel", The Ottawa Evening Journal, p. 4, October 31, 1962, retrieved July 29, 2014
  5. ↑ "Architects Selected for City Arenas", The Ottawa Evening Journal, p. 10, May 4, 1962, retrieved July 29, 2014
  6. ↑ "Walkley Rd. Arena Name Big Headache", The Ottawa Evening Journal, p. 40, February 20, 1963, retrieved July 30, 2014
  7. ↑ "Silver Seven Stadium?", The Ottawa Journal – Metro Final, p. 1, February 27, 1963, retrieved July 30, 2014
  8. ↑ "Name Proposed For New Arena", The Ottawa Journal, p. 2, April 30, 1963, retrieved July 30, 2014
  9. ↑ "Ottawa South Residents Push For Arena", The Ottawa Citizen, p. 20, January 12, 1984, retrieved July 29, 2014


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