Gray Arena Site Survey - Round 2

Municipal staff are asking for your feedback regarding the potential re-development of the Gray Arena Site and the 4 proposed re-development options. The survey will be available until 11:59 p.m., Friday, September 19th, 2025. The feedback obtained from the survey will assist Municipal staff in writing a recommendation report to HRM Regional Council regarding the future of the Gray Arena Site.

In accordance with Section 485 of the Municipal Government Act (MGA), any personal information collected in this survey will only be used by municipal staff and, if necessary, individuals and/or organizations under service contract with the Halifax Regional Municipality for purposes relating to processing the Gray Arena site survey results. If you have any questions about the collection and use of your personal information, please call 311 or email contactus@311.halifax.ca.

What you or your household's relationship to the Gray Arena Site? (Select all that apply)

* required

Resident in the surrounding neighbourhood

Resident of a nearby neighbourhood

Owner of a business in the neighbourhood

Regular user of the Gray Arena

No connection

Other (please specify)

What are the age groups of the members of your household? (Select all that apply)

* required

<14

15-19

20-29

30-39

40-49

50-59

60-69

70+

Prefer not to answer

What are the first three digits of your postal code?

* required

Maximum 255 characters

0/255

In the past year, approximately how often did you or members of your household visit the Gray Arena Site for recreational purposes (inside or outside)?

* required

Multiple times per week

Weekly

Monthly

A few times

We've never visited

What is your or members of your household's connection to the current dry arena at Gray Arena Site? (Select all that apply)

* required

I, or someone in my household, plays a sport there

I, or someone in my household, attend events or programs there

I, or someone in my household has used it in the past but not regularly

I have never used the dry arena at the Gray Arena Site

Other (please specify)

What activities bring you or members of your household to the Gray Arena Site? (Select all that apply)

* required

Indoor recreation (i.e. dry arena, skateboarding, lacrosse, pickleball)

Outdoor recreation (i.e. play structures, casual gathering, enjoying nature)

Walking or biking through

Attending programs or community events

Meeting friends/family

I/we don't currently use the Site

Other (please specify)

How do you or members of your household usually travel to and around the Gray Arena Site?

* required

Walk/Roll (i.e. wheelchair user)

Take the bus

Use a bicycle/scooter

By vehicle, as a passenger

By vehicle, as a driver

Not applicable

Other (please specify)

What barriers, if any, make it difficult for the Gray Arena Site to be used? (Select all that apply)

* required

I don’t know what facilities or programs are available at the site

I don’t know where it is

It’s too far from where I live

Lack of parking or transit access

Site feels unsafe or unwelcoming

Facilities are not accessible or inclusive

Programs or activities don’t interest me

Poor maintenance or outdated amenities

Site is too busy or crowded

I didn’t know the public could use it

I’m not sure how to access or book the arena

No barriers

Other (please specify)

Select how often you or members of your household visit the outdoor recreation facilities within the following area parks:

* required

Jason McCallough Memorial Park

Very often

Often

Sometimes

Not often

Never

Brule Street Park

Very often

Often

Sometimes

Not often

Never

Albro Lake Park

Very often

Often

Sometimes

Not often

Never

Gray Arena Site

Very often

Often

Sometimes

Not often

Never

North Grove Urban Agriculture

Very often

Often

Sometimes

Not often

Never

John MacNeil Elementary School

Very often

Often

Sometimes

Not often

Never

North Dartmouth Community Garden

Very often

Often

Sometimes

Not often

Never

10.

Which recreation centres do you or members of your household use? (Select all that apply)

* required

Dartmouth North Community Centre

Zatzman Sportsplex

None

Other (please specify)

11.

How often do you or members of your household visit the recreation centre(s) identified above?

* required

Multiple times per week

Weekly

Monthly

A few times

Have not visited

Gray Arena Site Re-development Options:

As part of the objectives of the re-development program, Municipal staff and FBM have created 4 re-development options for the Gray Arena Site. It should be noted that these re-development options do not show specific detailed designs and are intended to illustrate preliminary development concepts and potential land use by-law and zoning changes to the Gray Arena Site. These 4 re-development options have been provided below:

For more information on the 4 re-development options, please see the following link.

Option 1 - The existing arena is maintained and enhanced to meet current building and energy codes, and to improve accessibility. Outdoor space is maintained and enhanced.

Option 2 - The existing arena is maintained and enhanced to meet current building and energy codes, and to improve accessibility. Space is added to the arena to accommodate additional community programs. Outdoor space is maintained and enhanced.

Option 3 - The existing arena is maintained and enhanced to meet current building and energy codes, and to improve accessibility. Space is added to the arena to accommodate additional community programs. Outdoor space is maintained and enhanced. Also, a portion of the site is redeveloped to accommodate housing and commercial spaces.

Option 4 - The existing arena is demolished, and the entire site is redeveloped to provide housing and commercial uses in new mid-rise buildings. Future recreation investments would be concentrated at other indoor recreation facilities and surrounding parks.

12.

To what degree are you in favor of the following re-development options above?

* required

Option 1

Strongly in favour

In favour

Neutral

Opposed

Strongly opposed

Option 2

Strongly in favour

In favour

Neutral

Opposed

Strongly opposed

Option 3

Strongly in favour

In favour

Neutral

Opposed

Strongly opposed

Option 4

Strongly in favour

In favour

Neutral

Opposed

Strongly opposed

Please be aware that the following options are high level concepts for the potential re-development of the Gray Arena Site. These options do not show specific detailed designs, but are rather intended to illustrate development concepts and potential land use by-law and/or zoning changes that might be required.

13.

How important is it to you that the existing Gray Arena is retained as an indoor recreation facility?

* required

Very important

Important

Neutral

Somewhat important

Not at all important

14.

When thinking about the future of the Gray Arena Site, how important are the following features?

* required

Indoor recreation spaces (i.e. dry arena, includes skateboarding, lacrosse, pickleball etc.)

Very important

Important

Neutral

Somewhat important

Not at all important

Indoor community gathering spaces (i.e. meeting rooms, multi-purpose rooms)

Very important

Important

Neutral

Somewhat important

Not at all important

Outdoor community gathering spaces (i.e. green space, picnic areas, community garden)

Very important

Important

Neutral

Somewhat important

Not at all important

Outdoor recreation spaces (i.e. playgrounds, multi-use games area)

Very important

Important

Neutral

Somewhat important

Not at all important

Small scale commercial uses (i.e. restaurants, grocery, retail shopping)

Very important

Important

Neutral

Somewhat important

Not at all important

Housing (i.e. townhouses, low rise multi-residential)

Very important

Important

Neutral

Somewhat important

Not at all important

15.

What indoor community/recreation features should be at the Gray Arena in the future? (Select up to 3 you feel are most important)

* required

Community kitchen / Food bank

Dry arena (i.e. skateboarding, lacrosse, pickleball)

Gymnasium (i.e. basketball, volleyball)

Fitness studio

Makerspace (an indoor premise where individuals may borrow tools or equipment and produce artisanal goods)

Technology access hub

Multi-purpose room

Theatre & performing arts spaces

None - Leave as is

16.

Are there any indoor community/recreation features that you feel are important and should be provided at the Gray Arena Site that we missed above? Please explain

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17.

What outdoor community features should be at the Gray Arena Site in the future? (Select up to 3 you feel are most important)

* required

Walking path

Skateboard park

Outdoor fitness circuit

Community garden

Multi-purpose sports courts (i.e. basketball, volleyball, badminton)

Playground

Open green space

None - leave as it

18.

Are there any outdoor community features that you feel are important that should be provided at the Gray Arena Site that we missed above? Please explain

Maximum 255 characters

0/255

19.

What commercial/institutional uses should be allowed at the Gray Arena Site in the future (Select up to 5 you feel are most important)

* required

Retail

Personal services (i.e. barber, tailor, aesthetician)

Restaurant/coffee shop

Local drinking establishment (i.e. pub, micro brewery)

Offices

Veterinary facility

Pet daycare

Makerspace (an indoor premise where individuals may borrow tools or equipment and produce artisanal goods)

Artistic studio

Fitness studio

Financial institution (i.e. bank, credit union)

Medical clinic use (i.e. doctors office, dental office)

Daycare

Grocery store

None

20.

Are there any commercial/institutional uses that you feel should be permitted at the Gray Arena Site that we missed above? Please explain

Maximum 255 characters

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21.

When new or improved playgrounds or outdoor recreation facilities/spaces are proposed, should they be at the Gray Arena Site or in a different park?

* required

At the Gray Arena Site

No preference

At a different park space in the neighbourhoood (please specify)

22.

Are there any other ideas, concerns, or suggestions for the Gray Arena Site that you would like to address? Please explain

Maximum 255 characters

0/255