INNISFAIL – Although times are tough with a prolonged pandemic and a battered economy, the town is still taking a hard look into what is the best way forward for future recreational facilities.
That includes a long talked about multiplex, a costly dream but one already supported by local politicians, including the soon-to-be-retired Mayor Jim Romane, and councillors Jean Barclay and Don Harrison, the latter two saying the project would be an investment for the future with its big overall cost made more manageable and affordable by constructing it in phases that could take up to 10 years to complete.
The town has in fact been exploring the idea of a Multiplex Recreation Community Centre connected to the existing twin arena. The concept would not only be a multi-sport facility, but would also be a venue for non-recreational activities such as childcare, multi-purpose rooms for community use, fitness rooms, concession and informal social spaces.
The town wants more public feedback into this ambitious idea has just launched an online public survey, which will end March 1, to get feedback on four different options with a cost range of between $4.8 to $65.9 million.
The new public engagement strategy, called the Aquatic Centre & Multiplex Public Survey, was initiated after council gave the go-ahead last fall that more study and public feedback was required to see if there was any appetite with citizens to begin a slow methodical move forward toward the building of a multiplex.
Originally, the project consultant, B.C.-based HCMA Architecture + Design, was tasked at just looking for the best plan ahead for the Innisfail Aquatic Centre, a 35-year-old facility that has shown wear and tear in recent years.
Different options were created but council agreed more feedback was needed on a new and far more ambitious project, a state-of-the-art multiplex.
“There is some maintenance and other things that need to be done there (aquatic centre). That is what prompted the process to start with, was that we have to do something with the swimming pool. Is it just fix it? Is it start fresh?" said Meghan Jenkins, the town’s director of community services, adding that it made sense to at least start exploratory engagement with the community on the multiplex option. “These things don’t happen overnight. If we don’t start at some point, we won’t be ready even two or three years to actually get the construction going.
“It is a process and if you go through the survey the multiplex has been set out as a phase, a first phase and second phase,” she added. “That second phase could be 10 (years) plus years out even.”
The cost estimate for a long-term plan to build a full multiplex at the current arena location is $65.9 million, to be split in two phases. The first phase being $31.3 million and the second at $34.6 million.
The preliminary plan for the first phase would include a new fieldhouse for multi-sport use (lacrosse, soccer, tennis, basketball), maintain existing twin arena and curling rink, and new childcare space. The second phase envisions expanding the fieldhouse to include new curling rink and aquatic centre, and renovating the existing arena.
As for the other three options, the first calls for a renovation of the existing aquatic centre at an estimated price tag of $4.8 million. The second option is estimated to cost $7.7 million to renovate and add an addition to expand the existing facility pool, while the third option is to invest $14.3 million to build a larger aquatic centre at its existing location, and include a fitness centre, a water slide and larger spaces for reception, administration and staff offices.
Soon after the survey is completed on March 1, the town will receive a report from HCMA on the public feedback along with recommendations. Jenkins said administration is aiming for March 22 to hand town council a report. Council will then be asked to choose its preferred option. The project will then go to a “specific design” stage.
“They (HCMA) would actually get into that next level of detail, which would also help refine pricing, and if you would be able to move forward with any sort of construction,” said Jenkins.
To access the Aquatic Centre & Multiplex Public Survey go to innisfail.ca/64-public-engagement
