A recreational and cultural jewel in the heart of downtown will be improved with multi-use aquatic and ice centres and a wide promenade linking the entire area.
On Monday, city council unanimously approved the Red Deer Rotary Recreation Park and South Site Study plan. They also supported the Curling Club’s expansion project identified in the plan.
After meeting with the public and stakeholders over the last year, consultants created a plan to better connect and upgrade the facilities and green spaces between Alexander Way to the base of Spruce Drive hill.
“I like how it lays out great vision for that area,” said Councillor Cindy Jefferies. “When I think how that will feel . . . there is some ‘wow!’ in that.’”
A promenade, averaging 10 metres in width and an estimated $2.8 million to build, will eventually run from the Golden Circle to the front entry of the current Red Deer Arena, and what will end up becoming a new multi-use ice facility. This promenade will help to make this entire area feel like one big park in the downtown, said Craig Webber, principal with Group 2 Architecture Engineering Ltd.
The consultants clustered activities into zones, adding more definition within each area. Two of the zones, Aquatic and Ice, include the biggest projects.
The Curling Club received a $1 million investment from the city earlier this year towards upgrading the current ice arena just off 43rd Street and Spruce Drive. It hopes to begin construction in early 2011 on expanding to 12 sheets from eight. The curling centre will eventually be combined with the Red Deer and Kinex Arenas into a large multi-use facility.
Webber said the curling rink will be the first to see building while the multi-use ice facility is the final anticipated project.
The concept plan also includes the construction of a multi-use aquatics centre within the Aquatics Zone. This estimated $44-million project would add onto the recently upgraded Recreation Centre. It would replace the outdoor pool with a 50-metre swimming pool, a diving tank, and a lap/leisure outdoor pool.
The Central Alberta Aquatic Centre, a group of various users hoping for a 50-metre pool, are helping develop a comprehensive business plan and concept model.
Councillor Tara Veer said it’s important that groups are treated equally when it comes to how they are funded by the city.
Community Services director Colleen Jensen said each group’s project will be looked at on a case-by-case basis. If the pool is built at the city Recreation Centre site, then the city would be the primary developer. But the user groups would be asked to help out with construction costs as what happened with the Collicutt Centre, she added.
The remaining zones are Nature, Tennis and Youth. The Nature Zone consists of the area around Waskasoo Creek and would see the possible relocation of the path to the west bank.
The Tennis Zone would see the tennis club retain its current location on the north side of 43rd Street. It hopes to increase the number of indoor courts to six from four.
The current site of the skateboard park is the base for an expanded Youth Zone. It could see an additional new plaza style skate park, plus BMX hills, retail kiosk and washrooms, and basketball half courts.
Council will receive regular updates on the plan’s progress, the next one set for June 2011.
ltester@www.reddeeradvocate.com