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Coun. Thomas Steen (Elmwood-East Kildonan) gets ready to lace up the skates at the Hockey Day in Elmwood-East Kildonan event held at the Kelvin site last year. (FILE PHOTO BY ADRIAN ALLEYNE)

Elmwood residents were rejoicing last week over the possibility that recreational land the city had been considering selling could soon be taken off the auction block.

The land in question is located on the northwest corner of the former Kelvin Community Club site along Henderson Highway.

Last year, the East Kildonan-Transcona community committee denied a developer’s request to purchase the land and build commercial property and apartments.

However, the land has remained on the city’s excess property list, which means it could still be sold.

The Kelvin site is scheduled to be redeveloped beginning this spring and area residents have been urging the city to remove the portion of property that was up for sale from the list so that it can be used for recreational purposes.

Coun. Thomas Steen (Elmwood-East Kildonan) tabled a recommendation during last week’s community committee meeting requesting that the land be removed from the surplus list and added to the existing recreation area.

Area resident John King said he was encouraged that residents’ concerns appear to have been heard.
"I think this has been our ultimate goal, to get it off the surplus list," King said.

"I’m happy for the community. We fought to keep it as recreational because it’s a gem in the community."

Steen said he tabled the recommendation because community members have made it clear that they want the land to be used for recreational purposes.

"It’s a very unique space with good visibility from Henderson," Steen said.

"Through the community consultations some good things have come through there."

Steen’s motion will now go to the city’s standing policy committee on property and development for consideration. It must still be voted on by executive policy committee before going to city council on March 21.

"I hope to make the case so they understand the importance of this site," Steen said.

"There is an issue with people going all the way to Bronx Park Community Centre, there’s a lot of kids in the area and it’s quite a walking distance."

Jos Gatien, president of the Bronx Park Community Centre, which manages the former Kelvin site, said he fully supports the motion to use the property for recreation.

"We’re very excited about this motion. It’s going to be a wonderful thing for Kelvin," Gatien said.

"We’re looking forward to this land not being on the surplus list. The community has been very inventive. We’re looking forward to it and maintaining it."

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adrian.alleyne@canstarnews.com