Keen to make Quatre-Saisons Park a sports venue, Saint-Zotique's elected officials approved two expenditures in this direction at the regular municipal council meeting on Tuesday, February 18. 

The first is in the order of $94,508.30, taxes included. It will be used to award a contract to Synthetic Experts for the installation of a dek field hockey surface on the refrigerated ice rink for the 2025 season. 

It will also be used to purchase concrete blocks to maintain the rink's outer boards. The expense will be financed and paid from the unrestricted surplus. 

"The refrigerated rink already provides a large part of the facilities required for dek field hockey. It's a growing sport that's played on a smaller surface. For the moment, we can't accommodate a reduced surface. In the summer season, there's much less impact on users if we convert it to a duk field hockey surface. Since the refrigerated rink is a source of revenue for us, we decided to go ahead with this project," explains District 2 Councillor Yannick Guay.

For his part, Mayor Yvon Chiasson indicated that the city had measured the return on investment of this installation. "We made some calculations. We understand that not all Saint-Zotique residents will use it, although many will. According to our estimates, the investment was well worth it," said District 2 Councillor Yannick Guay. 

In the same vein, elected officials also approved another expenditure of $59,005.17. This sum will be used to purchase anti-pigeon netting for the roof of the refrigerated ice rink.  "Since the opening of this infrastructure, we've had problems with pigeons. Year after year, it increases and becomes a real problem. The birds relieve themselves on the ice, causing holes and requiring extra maintenance in winter. In summer too, they have to clean the lights and the surface to make it usable. It's the only way to get them off the roof. We have no choice," he added. 

The expense will also be paid from the unallocated surplus.