Parks and recreation department director James will presents the Facilities for the Future report at Monday night's council meeting.--News Photo Collin Gallant
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant
A near 20-year-old dream of south-end residents for recreation facilities in their area could come true according to a new major report on capital projects, but only when several major pieces of the plan fall into place.
On Monday, council appeared to give general approval to a “facilities for the future” report that would remake the recreation landscape in Medicine Hat.
It recommends building a large fitness centre and pool in the south, but only if other facilities close and create a mass of customers to keep it and the Big Marble Go Centre at high operating levels.
Coming up with the estimated $55-million and $70-million cost, final location and how the YMCA fits into the plan are still to be determined.
General time frame has the project moving forward within five years, but that would coincide with the closing of the Crestwood Rec Centre, and would require patrons from the Downtown YMCA and South Ridge Y to be economical.
In the mid-2000s, Eric Springman led a group of South Ridge homeowners who formed a community association to lobby for amenities. That effort stalled out, but Springman said this week the pool would still be a welcome addition, though many questions remain.
“This is where the growth is and I don’t see that changing,” he told the News on Tuesday. “It would be well used. It is a pretty big price tag and I’d like to know more about where the money is coming from,”
He said, personally, he would rather see the YMCA benefit over an expansion of city-run facilities.
The YMCA was still formulating a response to the plan Tuesday, but recreation department head James Will said “discussions” with the non-profit group would commence once the general plan was adopted.
It launched a capital campaign last year for improvements at the Downtown Y.
The city report also points to the potential of operating new facilities in partnerships with community and non-profit groups, like the YMCA and Medicine Hat College.
A south pool is slated to open in a five-year time frame in the plan that states the city could boost usage at its facilities by relocating some and capturing a greater portion of local populations, as well as reduce dependancy on tax revenue for operations.
Currently, rec and pool sites are (north to south) the Big Marble Go Centre, the Downtown YMCA and the Crestwood Rec Centre, both with older pools, and a fitness centre and gym at South Ridge Y in the far south.
Will told council that to improve cost recovery at remaining facilities is the goal, and for that to occur, fewer facilities could see more revenue from more members attending each.
Actual projects will be approved as they come up, but money for planning work could be approved soon.
Council members appeared supportive of the report that includes a list totalling $200 million for all projects. That includes a twin-plex arena with additional curling sheets, outdoor pool and splash park projects and a large outdoor pool (coupled to new south-side facility).
“We’ve seen a good roadmap that has a lot of fleshing out still to go,” Mayor Linnsie Clark said after the meeting. “For grants and opportunities we have to be ready, and working towards more specifics and project development is important. I’m heartened to hear that we don’t close facilities before opening new ones.”
The plan would see two community rinks in Medicine Hat toward building a twin-plex and curling club. That would open the Moose Rec Centre site for an expansion of Hill Pool, and the Hockey Hounds and Heights Pool sites for a new splash park.
Another large scale outdoor pool could be coupled with an indoor pool and rec centre in the city’s south, but only once the Crestwood Rec Centre is closed and talks with the YMCA are concluded.
Administrators say he city-owned building currently operated by the South Ridge YMCA is too small and too hemmed in between two schools to add more than a five-lane lap pool.
A final site is to be determined, and vacant sites exist in newer portions of the south end, but limiting factors include a shortage of power required in the general area. This summer a city-application for a new substation was denied, though administrators say they will continue planning for more capacity.
