The Town of Davidson is considering the idea of opening the Communiplex to skateboarders, ball hockey players and rollerbladers among other fitness enthusiasts this summer as a way to keep residents active.

Trevor Ouellette, recreation director for Davidson, said opening the Communiplex to summer activities is a way to make better use of the centre. He said having the facility open 10 months a year instead of the usual six gives residents more options in terms of recreation while also getting more service out of the building.

“It’s not going to be any type of revenue generation (for the town), but still if we can get the users in there just to use it then it provides more to the public,” said Ouellette, noting this change is not in place yet and still has to be discussed and passed by town council.

The Communiplex is available for rent during the summer months at a minimum charge, but Ouellette said this change would open the facility to any fitness club members who would like to use the rink surfaces without an additional charge. He said the idea is to have the rink surfaces open to anyone with a fitness club membership, so they may be able to choose between using the gym equipment at the fitness centre or taking their exercise routine to the rink surfaces.

“If you’re a skateboarder and you have no interest in the fitness side, but you still want to go two to three times a week (to the Communiplex), it’ll still be $25 for the month,” he said.

Skateboarders, for example, could bring their own equipment such as halfpipes and rails onto the Communiplex rink surface this summer to take advantage of the level and smooth concrete if they have a fitness club membership if this change passes. The only demand from the town would be the users have to remove the equipment and clean up after themselves when they’re done.

“If you want to make some rails or whatever, we’re willing,” said Ouellette. “As long as you respect the facility, you’re not damaging it and you clean up after yourself.”

The Town of Davidson recreation board will come to a final decision on whether to open the Communiplex to summer users at their board meeting in the first week of May.