The Bob Turner Memorial Centre is likely to be demolished this year.
The venerable arena that has been sitting in the heart of the city for decades will be torn down in 2013, leaving only a concrete slab.
The city set aside $150,000 last year to begin decommissioning the facility, and money from that funding envelope is being carried over to this year to complete the demolition work, Cornwall's budget steering committee learned Friday.
Christine Lefebvre, the city's parks and recreation manager, told city councillors the facility has seen better days.
"The arena is becoming a libaility to us," she said. "It's leaking big time inside."
The slab that is likely to be left, following the demolition, could be used to allow for "floor hockey or field hockey" or some other kind of recreation activity, said Lefebvre.
The football field at the Bob Turner is also in need of some improvements, said Lefebvre, though there was little in the way of specifics about what exactly will be done to it, or when the work will be done.
Minor football players who play on the field will be forced to dress and shower off-site - potentially at the Cornwall Armouries across the street - while portable washrooms are expected to be included this year.
Coun. Andre Rivette suggested the forward section of the Bob Turner building be kept and retrofitted for the time being with a new roof, to allow for use by football progams and players.
"I think we're tearing down a part of it that could be used for football," he said. "If you set up portables, you're going to have peope in the neighbourhood not happy with that."
A report on that subject is expected to be delivered to councillors.
Once the facility is demolished the city is expected to save about $40,000 a year in maintenance costs.
