Plans to upgrade and expand Stettler Recreation Centre will remain alive even though an application for major federal funding for the $2.4 million project has been denied.
At its regular meeting Feb. 16, Town of Stettler council established an improvements focus group to determine the needs for the next 30 years as a high priority in the town’s strategic plan.
“We need to ensure that we maintain and upgrade the recreation centre to serve the needs of residents and users,” said Mayor Dick Richards, who offered to serve as the town council’s representative on the group with Councillor Al Campbell as alternate.
Built in 1995 with two ice rinks and Stettler Public Library, the centre was expanded with a pool and leisure centre around 2005.
“The library is requesting more space and seniors want a new recreation facility,” said Mayor Richards.
“The focus group will collect all information that will impact the operations of the recreation centre for the next 30 years such as seniors’ needs, library expansion, all participants and needs of the recreation centre community,”
Improving the recreation centre was ranked the third priority by council as it reviewed the town’s strategic plan.
A report with recommendations and strategies has been scheduled to be presented to council on Sept. 21.
“Everything will have to come back to council before any work goes out to tenders,” said town manager Rob Stoutenberg.
To study the future, the group will include one representative each from town council, County of Stettler council, seniors, fitness users, Stettler and District Minor Hockey Association, Stettler Figure Skating Club, Stettler Swim Club, Stettler Lightning junior B hockey club and two members at large, along with the librarian, town manager and director of parks and leisure services.
Main components of the project include offices for Stettler Figure Skating Club and Stettler Lightning junior B hockey team, expanding the parking lot by 30 spaces south of the current parking lot, new bleachers in the red arena to add for capacity, heating system for the bleachers, upgraded handicapped-accessible sliding doors, recondition the washrooms and upgrading the ice plan, along with other improvements to roofing, floors and walls.
Committed to consult the community, the focus group will hire an architect to help guide the process to review the needs of the future, and complete a design based on recommendations developed by the group.
Council also received a letter that stated the town’s request for funding was turned down by the Recreation Infrastructure Canada (RinC) program that was established last spring through Western Economic Diversification Canada, considering that 1,588 applications were filed for over $400 million, 2.6 times greater than the available funding.
When the town applied for the RinC funding, staff had budgeted $1 million from the municipality, $800,000 from the RinC grant, $500,000 from the provincial government and $126,600 from local organizations.
