Renovations at the existing Red Deer Curling Centre will begin this spring with the help of the City of Red Deer’s continued financial commitment.
City council decided on Monday to redirect $1 million from municipal reserves towards upgrading the current ice arena just off 43rd Street and Spruce Drive.
Lyn Radford of the centre’s building committee said the $1 million will go a long way towards helping the centre get more leverage for the project.
The curling centre already has $1 million set aside for the project, so with the city’s $1 million, it’s already halfway to its goal of around $4 million.
She hopes that renovations can begin in April, as soon as the curling season ends.
“I like to look at this as a brand new facility — you are taking the whole ice part right off and you are building a new building,” Radford said outside council chambers.
Originally, the money was to be used for a much more ambitious project within Clearview Ridge — a 12-sheet curling rink and a multisport and community centre, estimated at $14.4 million.
Curlers rethought their plans after working with city staff and reviewing plans for Rotary Park, which envisions turning the area into a recreational hub.
The curling club also suffered a setback when it didn’t receive a $5.6-million Building Canada Grant. Operational costs were also a concern.
Radford said the new project has been cut back by about $10 million.
The present arena has eight sheets.
There is room to expand to 10, but Radford said they would like to have 12.
“If we can get 12, then we’re really in the position that we would be in the other facility, which is really good,” Radford said.
Construction could run six to eight months.
Curlers could be on the ice in January.
Radford said the centre must still meet with the Red Deer Tennis Club.
“Initially, we thought the tennis club was going to take over our facility,” she said.
“Now, in the new master plan (for Rotary Park), it’s looking better that they stay where they are.”
Councillor Lynne Mulder said she’d like to see some set criteria on funding so that groups would know what is expected of them in the future.
“When we have other groups come to us, we can say that this fits our criteria on whether we give a grant or a loan of $1 million,” Mulder said. “I just want to be fair for people.”
Mayor Morris Flewwelling said the original curling project was to be built on provincial lands immediately east of Gaetz Lakes Sanctuary and south of 67th Street.
He’s not sure what will happen next with the land, but said the city will be in discussions with the province about it.
ltester@www.reddeeradvocate.com