It was excellent news to read that city council has directed the city manager to report back by June 24, 2019, with recommendations for land options for a multi-use sports facility campus.
On October 2017, I attended a packed, standing room-only open house where the Active Communities Alberta (ACA) presented their detailed plans for a non-profit multi-use sports facility.
On October 2017, I attended a packed, standing room-only open house where the Active Communities Alberta (ACA) presented their detailed plans for a non-profit multi-use sports facility.
In May 2018, ACA presented to city council their vision for a non-profit multi-use facility estimated to cost $40 million. Subsequently, Coun. Jacquie Hansen tabled a motion for the city manager to develop by July of 2018 a memorandum of understanding with ACA and “that the MOU contain therein a statement that the City of St. Albert has interest in providing $20 million towards the project, conditional on $10 million in federal funding and $10 million in provincial government funding being secured for the project.”
The ACA proposal included a preferred south site adjacent to Heritage Lakes and next to Ray Gibbon Drive and Anthony Henday. This seems like a great location, especially now with the announcement of provincial funding for the twinning of Ray Gibbon Drive! This land is cost-effective as already has services close to it and may have a greater likelihood of securing provincial and federal funding as it could serve both St. Albert and Edmonton.
I reviewed the ACA proposal on their website and there is enough land to accommodate a complete multi-use facility, including a large gym, four indoor ice arenas, office and meeting space for non-profits, fitness centre, etc. It looks like there is also enough land to accommodate a possible pool, soccer building or gymnastics facility subject to agreement with those groups and additional funding. The ACA website has lots of details about their proposal on it and I was surprised to learn that there are many other multi-use sports facilities in Alberta like the one proposed by ACA that have many years of successful operation as non-profit.
It would be great to see the MOU between the City and ACA finalized. The ACA could move forward with a $20-million commitment from St. Albert to secure the other $20 million from the provincial and federal governments and possibly the land from the City of Edmonton. Being able to pay only half the cost seems like a heck of a deal for the residents of St. Albert!
As the city continues to grow, so should our recreation facilities, if not for our use at least for our children and grandchildren. The ACA has a plan and funding model that should be seriously considered.
It would be great to see the MOU between the City and ACA finalized. The ACA could move forward with a $20-million commitment from St. Albert to secure the other $20 million from the provincial and federal governments and possibly the land from the City of Edmonton. Being able to pay only half the cost seems like a heck of a deal for the residents of St. Albert!
As the city continues to grow, so should our recreation facilities, if not for our use at least for our children and grandchildren. The ACA has a plan and funding model that should be seriously considered.
Mike Killick, St. Albert
