Grande Prairie city council has approved $10 million in principle funding to continue exploring options for a new recreation centre in the city. Mayor Jackie Clayton says council has heard from different sporting organizations that there is a need for more sports space.
“Now we are looking at where this could go, and there are multiple locations in the city that council is considering,” Clayton says. “Along that way we also want to have conversations with our municipal partners and the user groups, in regard to their role in this facility.”
Clayton says a council has considered a dome-like facility because it would be easier and quicker to put up. She adds the space itself may not necessarily be a competitive space for every type of sport but could be a good recreation space for the region.
“It could be a great asset to our community in regards to providing turf space in the winter in particular. So lacrosse thought the space wouldn’t be boarded lacrosse could use it for practice in the winter. Football could use it, so the user groups have a potential partnership, in the sense that they could be a partner in the operation of it.”
Avondale is one of three sites being considered, along with sites in Smith and Cobblestone. Clayton adds the new facility could possibly open as soon as 2024. Currently most of the recreation facilities in the city fall under the SCORES agreement, allowing schools in the city to have use of them during the day, with community organizations using them in the evening.
According to the city because the approval for funding is in principle this could change when the discussion comes back to city council. Clayton says she expects another report to be presented on April 14th.