The City of Airdrie looks to welcome more recreation opportunities with the addition of a new recreation centre. Airdrie's population has seen a 20 per cent growth over the past five years and current recreation facilties are often operating at capacity during prime-time hours. In response, a quarter section of land was purchased in 2018 in partnership with Mattamy Homes and Rocky View School Division. The City acquired a 20.85 per cent share of the land for a new multi-purpose recreation centre to be located at the corner of Southwinds Boulevard and Southwinds Drive.
Year | timeline step |
---|---|
2017 | Council identifies priority for new recreation centre |
2018 | Land acquisition |
2019 - 2021 | Land planning |
2021-2022 | Indoor and Outdoor Community Recreation Needs Assessment |
2022-2023 | Amenity selection |
2023 - 2024 | Project and site planning including phasing *we are here* |
2024 | Centre design |
2025-2026 | Construction |
2026-2027 | Centre opens to the public |
2017 - Council identifies priority for a new recreation centre.
2018 - Land is acquired in partnership with Mattamy Homes and Rocky View School Division at Southwinds Boulevard and Southwinds Drive.
2021/2022 - The City of Airdrie commissions GEC Architecture and HarGroup Management Consultants Inc. to conduct the Indoor and Outdoor Recreation Needs Assessment Study.
2023 - City Council approves a thematic option focusing on the broadest community voiced needs for Phase I of the centre.
Council reviewed The Southwest Recreation Facility Pathway Forward For Airdrie: Phased Approach to Development of Facility Components and Amenities Summary Report. The report presented two thematic options for Phase I of the new centre: broadest community voiced needs and priorities or a sports focused use. On June 5, 2023, Council approved the recommendation of the Community Services Advisory Board (CSAB) to build the new SW recreation centre with an amenity focus that addresses the broadest community voiced needs and priorities found in the Indoor and Outdoor Recreation Needs Assessment Study. As such, Phase I of the centre will include leisure pools, a 25 m lane pool, fitness centre, supporting spaces and potential family play spaces.
Administration is preparing the scope of work for an RFP to procure a project management and design team for 2024. On February 5, 2024, Council reviewed a report, titled Arena Analysis Within SW Recreation Multi-Use Facility (PDF), for consideration of seating capacity arrangements at the future arenas and the impact to the over all site master plan for the centre. A site master plan of the entire 33 acres will be developed to include the footprint and site access plan for the first and future phases of the recreation centre. A conceptual design and functional program is to be developed by the design team. A detailed geotechnical site condition assessment and site prep work such as water, sewer, electrical will commence in late 2024 or early 2025.
In 2021, GEC Architecture and HarGroup Management Consultants Inc. were commissioned by the City to conduct the Indoor and Outdoor Recreation Needs Assessment Study as part of the initial planning for a new multi-purpose recreation facility and regional park within the community. Information gathered for the study involved input from residents and stakeholders to understand the community's use of current recreation facilties. This information will be used to determine amenity interests and community expectations.