A joint committee of the EFCL and Edmonton Community Leagues has been struck to review the city’s development strategy for constructing major recreation facilities.

Creation of the committee was sparked by the city’s desire to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on new facilities in the next few years, which will significantly affect the manner in which recreational programming is provided in Edmonton.

At its first meeting on November 24 the committee learned that the city is in the midst of its new development plan.  A state of the art multiplex was opened in Terwillegar at a cost of $167 million last March and a refurbished Commonwealth Stadium recreation facility, complete with swimming pool, field house, indoor track and meeting rooms is expected to be complete in June.

Tenders have also been awarded for the construction of a new facility at 17 Street and 23 Avenue in the Meadows as well as a major upgrade to the Clareview Recreation Centre.  Both facilities are scheduled for completion in 2014.

At a cost of $115 million, the Meadows is to feature a twin arena, double gym, two-swimming pools, fitness centre and multi-purpose rooms, long with a spray deck, basketball courts and playing fields next door.  It will also be home to the The Meadows Community League.

The Clareview Rec Centre, which already houses two arenas, is to get two pools, two gyms, a fitness centre, multi-purpose rooms and a library.  The $114 million makeover will also accommodate a multi-cultural centre that will be run by a separate organization.  The existing skate board park will be moved and an artificial turf playing field, along with a one km walkway to the LRT station will complement this project.

Each facility is expected to recover 80% of its operating costs, although it appears that Terwillegar may exceed revenue expectations this year and Commonwealth may come in somewhat lower.  It was noted that some costs, such as building repairs and corporate services (human resources, information technology) are not included in these figures.

Accompanying this development plan is a proposal by the city to scrap six older, single-sheet arenas in the central part of the city.  It is hoped that some of these ice surfaces can be replaced by adding to recreation facilities at Bonnie Doon and Coronation Park, however, the timing and specifics of these proposals have yet to be fleshed out.

After a lengthy discussion, the committee identified a handful of areas in which it would like to examine more closely. They are as follows:

1. The ability of major recreation centres to serve as community hubs, where people in the district can meet and develop friendships.

2. The location and development possibilities for a multiplex facility Lewis Estates, in the west end.

3. Facility replacement opportunities for aging rink facilities in older neighborhoods.

4. The potential for including Community League facilities in the city’s inventory of recreation facilities and its recreation program delivery strategy.

5. Development of a Municipal Sport Policy, to encourage and facilitate participation by Edmontonians of all ages and abilities. 

~photo courtesy of Rob Agostinis