During Monday's City Council meeting, Council, endorsed, what it dubbed the 'broadest community voiced needs thematic focus' for Phase I of the new Southwest recreation centre.

According to the City, Council was presented with two thematic options for the facility: broadest community voiced needs or a sports-focused use. 

"Each option included aquatic and fitness spaces as core facility components. The thematic decision pertained to allocating the bulk of funds to a 50-meter lane pool for competitive use and its required supportive spaces or spreading allocations across a broader array with a 25-meter lane pool, leisure pool, potential indoor family play space and slightly larger fitness centre to meet resident’s expressed needs and priorities," a city press release stated.

The Indoor and Outdoor Community Recreation Needs Assessment Study was completed in 2022 and clearly identified a gap in pool, fitness and indoor play facilities for Airdrie.

Some highlights from the assessment included that 97 per cent of residents stated that recreation was important to the quality of life in Airdrie, while 80 per cent of households agreed with the concept of constructing a new recreation facility in southwest Airdrie. The assessment also stated that households allocated $68 out of $100 toward indoor recreation

Mayor Peter Brown said that the approved thematic approach will be a huge benefit to Airdrie.

"We want to ensure that this new facility is built in a way that addresses our highest community needs and alleviates the current recreation pressures in the city," he said. 

Brad Anderson, Manager, of Genesis Place & Arenas said that the city is following the resident’s lead by placing those amenities with the largest need first in the phased build plans.

"We expect further engagement with the community and key stakeholders to take place following a detailed site assessment.”

A quarter section of land on the corner of Southwinds Boulevard and Southwinds Drive was purchased in 2018 in partnership with Mattamy Homes and Rocky View School Division, of which the City acquired a 20.85 per cent share for a new multi-purpose recreation centre.

The city stated that the resulting report was reviewed by Council in 2022, along with subsequent reports including Class D estimates to build the multi-use recreation facility totalling approximately $230 to $250 million.

Phase I of the recreation centre is budgeted for $80 to $100 million and is expected to open in late 2026 or early 2027.

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