Community fighting to keep Hamilton’s Eastwood Arena alive

A busy community hub in Hamilton’s north end could soon fall silent. As the city weighs safety concerns and a possible closure, families and players are fighting to keep Eastwood Arena alive.

“Eastwood Arena means a lot for my family. We come here every weekend. We play ball hockey every weekend. I’ve been playing in this arena for over 30 years,” said ball hockey coach Patrick Deluca.

It was a bustling Sunday at Eastwood Arena. The Hamilton Minor Ball Hockey League championships are in full swing as U12 teams battle it out for a Stanley Cup.

“You can see it’s packed. There’s no parking. Championship day, there’s no room in the stands, the rink is busy,” said Chantel Trowbridge, minor league convenor.

But the sounds of the game could soon be replaced by silence.

“If it closes we 100 per cent need to find a place to continue this. We need a new home,” said one resident.

For generations, Eastwood has been a north-end staple, a place where friendships are formed and the community gathers. But at 66 years old, the facility is showing its age.

The city says the infrastructure is failing beyond the surface wear, there are deep structural concerns — from weathered roof beams, water leaks and critical heating issues.

“It’s not a building on a proper foundation. It never was built that way. So it’s not something that’s stable, it’s not something that’s safe. And there are a lot of risks and the city has to err on the side of risks,” said Ward 2 Councillor Cameron Kroetsch.

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On April 15, the arena is slated to shut down its doors temporarily. Over the following month, officials will conduct a full-scale evaluation to determine if the building is even repairable.

“We’re closing it now to assess those risks and make sure that it can be reopened for hopefully September. If not, we’ll be finding places for people to go,” said Coun. Kroetsch.

But other places are hard to find. For Hamilton ball hockey, city roller derby and lacrosse players, Eastwood is one of the last affordable options in the city.

“The city needs to develop a plan before they close Eastwood. They can’t put all these kids out with nowhere to play,” said Trowbridge.

Residents aren’t waiting for the May evaluation results to find a voice. An online petition to save the rink is rapidly gaining momentum.

“We need accessible opportunities for kids to play sports that are in the communities they live in,” said a local resident.

For the families here, this isn’t just a debate over bricks and beams. It’s about preserving a community hub before the clock runs out.

The city says no final decision has been made on the arena’s long-term future but they plan to have information ready this May.

For now, the city is continuing its inspection and evaluation of the building to ensure safety for everyone before it closes on April 15.

They’re also assessing all the possibilities, including other spaces where people can play.

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