General Updates and News

[jslath]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

It is a fast and easy way to verify what I believe are vastly inflated claims. It was again deserted today.

Perfect example of how data can be manipulated to get the outcome you want. You pick the time, you pick the conditions and you randomly get the outcome you are testing for. Funny how that happens, eh?

If you want a better observation, you have to look at the same webcam (or better yet, go an experience it in person) at the same time for at least a year- or may two years (big pool of data). But then you should filter out storm days (whether rain or snow). The time of day would be an interesting choice... are you looking at 7am, noon, 5pm or 9pm? Noon on a Saturday in winter would be vastly different than 9pm on a Wednesday in summer.

... but I get the impression you are not open to any of this as it may contradict your opinion.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Don't know if this has been mentioned here before - old Saint Mary's School on Grafton is for sale:

http://www.metronews.ca/news/halifax/201...ifax-heritage-property-up-for-sale-.html

[Keith P.]

Drove by the jammed oval again today. Part of it was underwater, but there was a massive crowd consisting on one young girl driving her bicycle around on the dry parts.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

Drove by the jammed oval again today. Part of it was underwater, but there was a massive crowd consisting on one young girl driving her bicycle around on the dry parts.

I looked on the webcam a couple of times during the scheduled skates and there looked to be around 10 skaters on it at any one time, difficult to tell as you can't see the whole oval on the cam.

I can't say I'd expect to see a lot of people on the oval during a hot summer's weekday, as I tend to think of this more as beach weather. Likely will be more as the weather cools off.

From today on the webcam:

[JET]

I checked the webcam as well this morning, and there was a steady stream of folks going around, but yeah on a nice sunny day there's lots of places to go. But still it's being used, and that's a good thing.

[Hali87]

Originally Posted by jslath

If you want a better observation, you have to look at the same webcam (or better yet, go an experience it in person) at the same time for at least a year- or may two years (big pool of data). But then you should filter out storm days (whether rain or snow).

You shouldn't filter out storm days. Doing so is basically saying that the climate doesn't matter and doesn't need to be taken into account for things like this.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by Hali87

You shouldn't filter out storm days. Doing so is basically saying that the climate doesn't matter and doesn't need to be taken into account for things like this.

True, but storm days are kind of a wash in that all outdoor activities (i.e. baseball and tennis on the commons) are equally affected.

In winter, those facilities aren't even used so actually the oval is the only venue on the commons that is used year-round.

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark

In winter, those facilities aren't even used so actually the oval is the only venue on the commons that is used year-round.

Except that it's not used 90% of the time.

[musicman]

just because it isn't packed does not mean it is not used... There is speed skating lessons, time put aside for our speed skating teams to practice.. Not to mention alot of kids are in school all day. And there is also maintanence to be done..

[Keith P.]

Mere observation indicates it is largely unused. It is interesting to see so many rise to the defense of this monstrosity. Eagerly awaiting the first freeze/thaw crack in the surface that requires more millions on repairs. Yet rinks, which are always heavily utilized, are being closed all over HRM for lack of funds to maintain them. Another example of HRMs misplaced priorities.

[fenwick16]

This questions shows how uninformed I am, but does the city keep ice on the Oval year round? (I assumed it wouldn't be possible during the hot days).

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by fenwick16

This questions shows how uninformed I am, but does the city keep ice on the Oval year round? (I assumed it wouldn't be possible during the hot days).

No. They can barely keep ice on it in the winter. This year I recall that when we finally got a few sunny but cold days in late March, they had to shut it down because they didn't have the chilling capacity to overcome the sun despite the chilly ambient temps.

[terrynorthend]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

No. They can barely keep ice on it in the winter. This year I recall that when we finally got a few sunny but cold days in late March, they had to shut it down because they didn't have the chilling capacity to overcome the sun despite the chilly ambient temps.

Not correct. This year we had massive, incapacitating snowfall in the middle of March. They had intended to keep the Oval open a little later this year, but closed it after those storms and just let the snow melt naturally. Generally speaking though, it can't keep ice serviceable at air temps above 10C. Also, as the sun gets higher in late March, while they can technically keep ice if the air temp is cool, intensifying direct sunlight makes the surface very rough for skaters.

In the warmer months, after the winter fences and infrastructure is removed, the concrete Oval track is used both casually and organizationally by rollerskaters, bladers, cyclists and para-athletes. Are there a lot of summer users? No, but on an average summer day, probably 50-100 people would use it in one fashion or another over the length of the day. On days that there are scheduled events, for example the Michelin Kids' Bike Safety Rally, or the CIBC Run for the Cure, hundreds to thousands use the Oval. There are several such events throughout the warm months.

How does this compare to its previous incarnation as a pair of ball diamonds? Pretty evenly, IMO. The diamond closest Citadel Hill was perpetually soggy and underused because of the aquifer and poor drainage. The other diamond did have a pitcher's mound, and was used more, but probably served no more than a few dozen people over a couple of games on any given day. Of course, its use was pretty limited, only ever for ball. Maybe if there wasn't a game going on, there might be a couple of people tossing a frisbee around, but not much else.

There are still plenty of ball diamonds available for use on the Commons, and now there is the added diversity of all these activities as well as cricket and football on the southwestern fields. I know all of these things aren't everyone's cup of tea, but a little something for each. It makes for a far more interesting place in the summer where once there was only ball, and now a place that also thrives in the winter where once there was nothing.

[Aya_Akai]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

No. They can barely keep ice on it in the winter. This year I recall that when we finally got a few sunny but cold days in late March, they had to shut it down because they didn't have the chilling capacity to overcome the sun despite the chilly ambient temps.

Does anyone else hear that?



I think we need to get that broken record looked at.

Seriously.. this is like the 4th thread you've gone on and on like a broken record about how you think something is a waste. we're all entitled to our opinions and all that jazz, but expressing them once is enough. I swear the library thread turned into Keith's Library Hate Zone® So can we not do that here, please. We got it, you don't like it. Perfect. Moving along!

[visualman57]

Originally Posted by halistreaks

does anyone else hear that?



i think we need to get that broken record looked at.

Seriously.. This is like the 4th thread you've gone on and on like a broken record about how you think something is a waste. We're all entitled to our opinions and all that jazz, but expressing them once is enough. I swear the library thread turned into keith's library hate zone® so can we not do that here, please. We got it, you don't like it. Perfect. Moving along!

bravo!

[Keith P.]

I go on about HRM waste because HRM is constantly wasting taxpayer money. If they spent wisely I would be quiet as a mouse. You want me to start a thread about the secret supplemental pension fund for Butts and his already-overpaid direct reports? The senior bureaucrats at HRM are plundering the treasury and nobody knows a damn thing about it.

[hokus83]

Any update on the Dennis building

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

I go on about HRM waste because HRM is constantly wasting taxpayer money. If they spent wisely I would be quiet as a mouse. You want me to start a thread about the secret supplemental pension fund for Butts and his already-overpaid direct reports? The senior bureaucrats at HRM are plundering the treasury and nobody knows a damn thing about it.

Then why not bring things like this to light and stop focusing on bringing down the things that benefit the public?

What I don't get is that you are always complaining about things from which the public might get some benefit (which, conveniently, you also don't seem to have any interest in), but seem to be quiet about other items that you haven't judged as "wasteful" for some reason or another. Fair enough, complain away, expressing opinions are what forums like this are all about.

Then you make statements like: "It is interesting to see so many rise to the defense of this monstrosity.", as though the rest of us must be idiots if we see value in something that you don't. In reality, statements like that actually have an effect opposite to that which you appear to be hoping for.

For all the waste and corruption that goes on behind the scenes (that you appear to have access to), I'm pleased as punch to see HRM spend some money on projects that anybody is free to use and enjoy. I'd much rather see the money spent on an oval than free parking for politicians, etc....

I'm thinking that you should go to the media with your information about the plundering of the treasury. The public has a right to know what's being done with their money - they can easily see it with the oval, the library, and bike lanes, but don't have access to secret internal corruption like you do. Tax money should be spent on public interests and not to benefit individuals unfairly.

[teddifax]

Originally Posted by HaliStreaks

Does anyone else hear that?



I think we need to get that broken record looked at.

Seriously.. this is like the 4th thread you've gone on and on like a broken record about how you think something is a waste. we're all entitled to our opinions and all that jazz, but expressing them once is enough. I swear the library thread turned into Keith's Library Hate Zone® So can we not do that here, please. We got it, you don't like it. Perfect. Moving along!

I agree!!!

[hokus83]

Originally Posted by HaliStreaks

Does anyone else hear that?



I think we need to get that broken record looked at.

Seriously.. this is like the 4th thread you've gone on and on like a broken record about how you think something is a waste. we're all entitled to our opinions and all that jazz, but expressing them once is enough. I swear the library thread turned into Keith's Library Hate Zone® So can we not do that here, please. We got it, you don't like it. Perfect. Moving along!

but he loves the bayers road expansion plans because it benefits his SUV