Fountain Park Recreation Centre is facing a temporary shutdown this spring and summer to undergo major repairs.
Built in 1978, the 44-year-old facility needs major lifecycle repairs and replacement work, according to the city. For the most part, this work will involve the replacement of the facility’s primary air-handling system. Some examples of other work include updates to equipment and infrastructure to improve energy efficiency, and upgrades to the building’s fire alarm and security systems.
While the closure is taking place, Landrex Water Play Centre, Servus Credit Union Place, and Grosvenor Outdoor Pool will be available to accommodate programming normally offered at the Fountain Park rec centre in a reduced capacity, according to a Jan. 28 news release from the city.
“The city recognizes another temporary closure of a recreational facility can be disheartening to residents and patrons and appreciates their ongoing patience as we undertake vital life-cycle work to preserve the facility,” city spokesperson Cory Sinclair wrote in the Jan. 28 release.
In the release, Sinclair said it was not possible for the city to undertake the repair work during the facility’s recent unscheduled mandatory closures due to COVID-19, the most recent of which took place from April 30 to June 14, 2021. He said the timing for the closure in the spring and summer factored in reduced traffic volume, weather suitable to construction, and the availability of alternative facilities.
In an email sent to The Gazette Tuesday afternoon, Sinclair said the overall repair project is anticipated to cost $10.5 million, $6 million of which will be spent in 2022. After the life-cycle upgrades wrap later this year, a second phase of repairs is set to take place in 2024, which will involve a secondary closure of the facility.
When asked what these repairs will involve, Sinclair said the details are still in development, but the primary focus will involve interior refurbishment of the facility.
Sinclair said the majority of funding for the current planned repairs will be drawn from the city's municipal life-cycle reserves — money used to repair, maintain, and replace city infrastructure. He noted federal grant programs could help offset the costs, but said this is yet to be confirmed.
Some residents who frequent the rec centre expressed disappointment in hearing about the closure.
Katie Wright takes her children to weekly swimming lessons at Fountain Park. Wright said while she sees renovations as “much needed,” she feels the nature of the renovations should be more comprehensive.
“It’s a shame that they are solely maintenance-related and not to improve what the facility offers,” Wright said, noting that accessibility issues — for example, an elevator to get to the basement level of the building — are still unaddressed.
Wright also noted the family change room is “incredibly crowded,” and that limited water play structures and toys in the pool other than pool noodles and floating matts mean she and her family have started travelling to Millennium Place in Sherwood Park more frequently.
Heather Lee, another frequent rec centre user, shared her love of the facility and the staff who work there, adding that lane swimming in the facility has brought her a lot of solace in recent months.
“Once again the public is being asked to adapt and move on,” Lee said. “We will, I will, but it leaves the question still of why couldn’t these much-needed renovations have been completed during the down times?”
Like Wright, Lee said the lack of space at the facility is an issue. She noted she is concerned about overcrowding at other rec centres such as Servus Place this spring and summer. She added she will “be delighted when the pool will be open again.”
Roxane Power — a parent who uses the facility on a weekly basis — said the facility “really does need an upgrade,” noting the air in the building often feels “muggy.”
In addition to ventilation, however, Power echoed Wright’s concerns about the family change-room size, arguing the building needs more space.
“When you’re beating the clock to try to get children in swimming lessons, when you’re often wait-listed and you’re so crammed you can’t get parking there, it’s probably an indication that we’ve outgrown our facility,” Power said.
In the Tuesday afternoon email, Sinclair said accessibility enhancements are "not included in the scope of the 2022 work," though Sinclair did not directly respond on the issue of change room space in the facility, and whether this would be a consideration in the city's future planning.
"We recognize the need to ensure our facilities are accessible to anyone who wants to enjoy them and that will be a consideration as we plan out future work to Fountain Park Recreation Centre," Sinclair said in the email, noting planning details for the 2024 portion are still in development.
The city avoided a single extended closure to allow seasonal accommodation at other rec facilities, the release said.
Planning for this second phase of work is ongoing. The city said more details will be provided at a later date.
Power said she is not concerned about the current closure, noting it won’t be an inconvenience for her family, “considering that we are not a remote city … we have a lot of options outside of our city that we can find alternatives,” Power said.
However, Power said she is unsure St. Albert’s planned growth and continuing development aligns with the lack of existing recreation options in the city.
“We may need to start thinking about having those additional resources available in other areas of the city, so as not the overwhelm our existing areas,” Power said.
