INNISFAIL – The town has determined a multiplex project is the preferred option to meet future recreation, leisure and wellness opportunities for the community and it wants more detailed input from user groups to determine program needs.
A new public engagement initiative on the project, which is seen by the town as being multi-phased over many years with a future potential total cost of nearly $70 million, was introduced at a special council meeting on May 17.
The town has been moving forward on the community multiplex idea since last fall when council wanted to look at a fourth option, the multiplex concept, during an outside consultant study into a modernization plan for the Innisfail Aquatic Centre.
The three other options, which had price tags between $4 million and $16 million, included a straight renovation, a renovation and expansion, and a new build.
However, the town conducted an online public survey earlier in the year to get more feedback and there was significant support to move on the multiplex option, likely where Innisfail Twin Arena is now located.
“Through the process of evaluating the lifecycle and potential modernization of the aquatic centre, the identification of a community multiplex project has emerged as a preferred option for the consolidation of sport, leisure and wellness opportunities in a common location,” said Meghan Jenkins, the director of community services, in her report to council on May 17.
Jenkins’ report also told council the town wanted to continue to develop and refine a design concept for a community multiplex at the Innisfail Twin Arena site through a stakeholder engagement process to determine programming needs.
Council was told this new public engagement would be through Zoom meetings, and the cost to retain additional consultant services from HCMA Architecture + Design -- an architectural and design firm based in Vancouver and Victoria, B.C. -- would be $16,500.
Council unanimously approved a motion for the expense, which will be funded from the town’s Facilities Reserve.
Jenkins said this new public engagement phase to determine needs and wants of various user groups of a future multiplex facility will consist of online workshops with aquatics, field house and curling users.
Her report said it will also explore the concept of wellness in the community, along with opportunities for other non-recreational components, including arts and culture, at a potential new multiplex.
Council was told this phase will be led by HCMA architects and will take about six weeks to complete.
“It will help us narrow the focus, which will help us firm up our project budget and a design prior to moving into that more detailed schematic design phase,” said Jenkins.
With council now approving the move forward with the necessary funding, Jenkins said the town will now create a stakeholder list.
“At this point it will be any of our regular users at the various facilities. We would have lacrosse and baseball and soccer for sure for the fieldhouse conversation,” she said, adding engagements will also include the curling club, as well as current users from Innisfail Aquatic Centre, such as kayakers and water polo officials.
“We are certainly open for suggestions if you think there are some that are being overlooked but that is the preliminary game plan,” said Jenkins.
Coun. Don Harrison said he was in favour at looking at the multiplex option. He noted it will allow for all of the town’s recreation and wellness facilities to be housed in one site, and that it has the potential to be a “truly community gathering place.”
However, he cautioned that it’s still in a preliminary stage.
“There is still much work and study that needs to done before a final decision is made,” said Harrison.
