After nine months of study, discussions and planning, the City of Lethbridge unveiled the results of a feasibility study on a potential leisure centre that would be built in The Crossings area of the city, including potential cost, possible amenities and the demand for such a centre.
The cost would be approximately $173 million, and if approved, the full leisure centre would be completed by approximately 2020. Already approved is a twin ice rink and curling rink, which has received a $10 million grant from the federal government. The leisure centre would be built in The Commons area on the city’s west side, which is the planned location for the twin ice rink. Ashley Matthews, the recreation and culture manager for the City of Lethbridge, said that the city is working on getting another grant from the provincial government to complete the arena by 2016.
Matthews also said that The Commons was the only area considered for the leisure centre.
The results of the study were presented by Matthews and representatives from Group2 Architecture from Red Deer. Other agencies represented included Expedition Management Consulting and Ferrari Westwood Babits Architecture.
Troy Smith, a principal with Group2, said that the guiding principal in the leisure centre feasibility study was the community.
“It would be the hub of a city, and accessible to all demographics and people with all abilities,” he said.
After an introduction from Matthews, Craig Webber of Group2 was the first person to present. Webber noted that the feasibility study on a new leisure centre began last September. The groups received over 900 responses from the public and various stakeholder groups about what they wanted for the leisure centre. Group2 then looked into the responses and calculated how much it would cost to both construct and operate certain features. Group2 held two public open houses at the beginning of the year to hear what the community would want for the leisure centre.
“We’ve received a good deal of public input back from these sessions,” Webber said.
In addition to the twin ice rinks, the proposed leisure centre would feature an aquatic centre with a pool, two waterslides and a lazy river, said Smith. There would also be a fitness centre with a running track and child-minding centres for parents.
“From all of the consultations, child-minding was perceived as very important,” he said.
“Having your children looked after while you’re there would allow more users to come.”
Webber added that many communities are beginning to move away from single-use facilities to the leisure centre route.
“There has been proven operational efficiencies that can be provided with a joint facility, rather than individual facilities,” he said.
Webber also added that joint facilities lead to a number of synergies with the components that cannot be provided by single-use facilities, such as multi-purpose rooms that be used to create potential revenue.
Dan Westwood of Ferrari Westwood Babits spoke about sustainability, which was one of the guiding principals of the feasibility study. Westwood said that the potential leisure centre would be built to a LEED silver rating, which the city of Lethbridge mandates for new buildings.
Westwood spoke of ways that the centre would conserve energy.
“There will be strategies to capture wasted heat from the pools and arenas that will heat areas elsewhere,” he said.
Justin Rousseau with Expedition Management Consulting broke down the cost of the leisure centre and the demand for the facilities.
The potential aquatic centre would be the most expensive portion of the facility, costing an estimated $37 million out of the $173-million price tag. This is due to the need for heaters and different temperature regulations.
However, the proposed centre would help alleviate the demand for recreation facilities around the city. In 2010, the city’s ice arenas reported that 14,000 hours of ice time were booked at arenas. Swimming pools also reported long waitlists for swimming pools, especially for preschool programs, with 350 people on the waitlist.
“The facilities right now are at capacity and are having difficulty meeting current demand,” he said. Compared to previous meetings, this one had a smaller turnout, with only approximately 30 people attending. However, those in attendance for the most part were optimistic and interested in the proposed centre.
“It seems to be very well organized, and they’ve taken their time to look at the options” said Henry Vanderpyl, adding that if the centre was built, he and his family would use it.
Shobah George was more open in her desire for the centre.
“I really want this to happen,” she said. “I think it would be a great thing for our city, it would bring in a lot of money and it would be good for everyone who wants to get out and enjoy recreation.”
Matthews, although surprised at the small turnout, believes that people are supportive of the leisure centre.
“There is a need within our community, and it is being expressed by our community that there is support,” Matthews said.
“We’ve never seen this much public support for the facility in other communities we worked with,” Smith added. “We were surprised.”
Matthews added that it is up to city council to decide on whether or not to build the leisure centre and it will likely be decided next year.
The full document outlining the results of the feasibility site can be found under “Things to Do” on the City of Lethbridge website, www.lethbridge.ca.