An official with the St. Albert Rugby Football Club says they are frustrated by all the unknowns surrounding the redevelopment of Riel Recreation Park, including what potential delays mean for the club's fields over the next two years.
"We're very disappointed," said club facilities director Doug Krempien. "We haven't talked to anyone from the city at all. All we've got are rumours and what we read in the paper."
Council put the last two phases of the redevelopment on hold during Monday's finance committee meeting. Members decided to move the project to the unfunded list in the utility capital plan until they receive a report outlining the full extent of the work and costs, which is expected in September.
Council asked for the report on the heels of its decision last week to top up funding by $2.3 million for the second phase of the landfill remediation and redevelopment work, an area encompassing the Kinsmen rodeo and exhibition grounds, BMX track and Rotary Park. That puts total spending for the first two phases at around $21 million.
Phases three and four would see more capping and grading of the former landfill area at the site of the rugby and soccer fields. The final phases are expected to cost $8 million in 2011-12.
Krempien said the club is hesitant to spend money on repairs that are needed now, including improving drainage from Rodeo Drive and smoothing bumpy areas along the third rugby field, currently shut down.
"There's no sense in doing remedial work to correct that if they're going to come in here and grade all of our fields' area," he said. "The question is how much money should we spend?"
Alternate arrangements
Melody Martyn, executive director of the St. Albert Soccer Association, said her organization was told about three weeks ago that construction was expected to start on the sports fields next spring. She was later informed the project would not progress until funding was in place.
"The tentative date is September of next year, but that's just for the work of tearing the fields off … but that's only if the money is approved by council," said Martyn.
She said the club is working out alternatives for soccer games that would be ready for when the fields are shut down. She hopes the impact on the club's future seasons will be minimal, getting back on the field in mid-2013.
"The worst case scenario is we're off for two full soccer seasons," said Martyn. "But if they need to do it, they need to do it."
Coun. Gareth Jones, who is a member of the rugby club, said delays could have a significant effect on both groups beyond forcing them to play games elsewhere.
"It could not just damage the programs, but it could damage the revenues as well," he said. "It really does affect a non-profit organization."
Neil Jamieson, general manager of planning and engineering for the city, said his department is working on the updated report for council, which he hopes will outline the final costs for the last two phases.
Jamieson said working atop a former landfill means the city is still running into is surprises, such as two gas pipes that might halt work on phase two this year.
