DIDSBURY – After hearing a presentation from Nicole Aasen, manager of community services, council approved plans for the development of the grounds outside the Didsbury Memorial Complex.
Aasen told council that the Memorial Complex Outlying Plan would be implemented over five-plus phases with the first phase starting as early as 2017 pending council approval.
“As council is aware, in 2013 a group of community members were struck to develop the 2013 Didsbury Recreation and Culture Master Plan,” said Aasen.
“Once that plan was completed it set forth 14 priorities for the community to guide recreation and culture development into the future. One of those priorities was a plan for the development of the outlying plan for the memorial complex.
“Really, a way to guide for the outside grounds at the complex and looking at what types of recreational facilities would be a possibility in that space.”
The plan was developed by ISL Engineering and includes sports courts such as basketball, sand volleyball, tennis courts and pickleball courts; skate park, adventure playground, water features, outdoor washrooms and zip line; enhance green space, Japanese garden; and the expansion of the trail system and additional parking spaces for Memorial Complex users.
Council will have the opportunity to review the plan and decide how the project will be phased in based on available funding and council priorities.
Coun. Sheila Schulz asked administration what council was committing to. She also asked for a breakdown of priorities.
“If we approve this tonight, how do we move forward as far as budgeting goes?” said Schulz. “Approving this now what are we committing to?”
Aasen said costs would depend a lot on how the tendering went.
“ISL has come up with some general costs,” said Aasen. “There are ways to bring those numbers down. Really the number we actually pay will be dictated by what comes back as a tender.”
Coun. Joyce McCoy brought up the possibility of building a field house with inside courts that could be used year-round.
Harold Northcott, CAO, answered that although a field house would be nice, the costs would be huge due to the fact that the town would need to provide heating for the facility, as well as staffing.
McCoy also asked if approval of the project meant approval of the priorities set out by the committee.
Aasen replied, “Absolutely not. That's just the way it was suggested it could be implemented. You're not necessarily committing yourself to the plan as it is. It's something that can be fluidic. It can change over time. “Really, what we're committing to by adopting the plan is for the Town of Didsbury to redevelop the grounds into more usable recreation space. ”
The 10-year capital plan for 2015-24 has $5,143,480 earmarked for the project with just over $1 million coming in 2017 followed by $808,795 in 2018; $963,750 in 2019; $679,900 in 2020; and, finally, $1,690,100 in 2021.
Aasen said the costs in the capital plan are high-level estimates from ISL.
“The true costs for each element will not be known until we go to tender, which can vary from year to year based on the economy and the number of companies capable of completing the work being tendered,” she said.
The next steps for the project will see council decide exactly which components it wants to proceed with, establishment of a timeline for implementation, and a decision on how the project will be funded, said Aasen.
“Construction would start once council has decided their priorities and planned for such within their capital budget process,” she said.
