Blackfalds’ recreation plans remain on track.
Town council has unanimously approved an architect for a planned second arena, estimated to cost around $15 million and be built in 2021. The expansion could also include other community spaces.
Mayor Richard Poole says in a statement that the project attracted “great interest,” with 13 firms responding to the town’s request for proposals.
Edmonton-based ACI Architects, which submitted the winning bid of $743,355, has a history in Blackfalds.
“The winning group from ACI includes members we have worked with in the past who helped us building our award-winning Abbey Centre,” said Poole.
ACI was also behind Red Deer RCMP’s downtown detachment building and Lacombe’s new police station.
Adding another ice surface has been on the community’s wish list for some time. The 2015 Recreation and Parks Master Plan identified it as a community priority to be tackled within seven years.
Construction costs have already been built into the town’s long-range capital plan.
“Community members responded positively to this project, establishing a fundraising group to support this initiative,” says the town.
Various groups that use the existing arena teamed up to form the Dual Ice Development Society, which has set a fundraising goal of $1 million.