Council approved Ed Eggerer Athletic Park as the site for Airdrie's new artificial turf field on July 4.

Council instructed Administration to provide a Class A cost estimate to Council by the fourth quarter of 2023. Construction on the new artificial grass field is expected to start in 2024 if permitted.

“This is a win for recreation in Airdrie,” says Mayor Peter Brown. “Choosing Ed Eggerer Athletic Park as the location and converting the existing field to artificial turf, as opposed to starting from scratch elsewhere, means Airdrie will have a sanctioned field as early as next year.”

Council looked through the conclusions and suggestions of a report on Ed Eggerer Athletic Park's readiness for a FIFA and Football Canada-sanctioned artificial turf surface. The location was suggested in the research after taking timing, geotechnical, and existing infrastructure into account.

“Choosing to install an artificial turf field at Ed Eggerer Athletic Park makes sense despite the soil challenges. It allows the community to have a playable area much sooner compared to other potential sites like the planned SW recreation centre,” explains Brad Anderson, Manager of Genesis Place & Arenas. “Similar soil difficulties may exist at other locations too. Furthermore, Ed Eggerer Athletic Park already has necessary infrastructure such as bleachers, change rooms and parking, which would require budgeting and construction at other sites.”

The report that was given on July 4 also looked at the viability of building an air-supported structure that could provide four-season enjoyment on the new artificial turf field, as requested by Binnie & Associates Ltd. The research noted the several difficulties such construction would encounter, including the cost of set up and take down, clearing snow, and the need to pull down the running track at Ed Eggerer Athletic Park. As a result, it was advised against using the site for a seasonal air-supported dome.

“It was important to explore the feasibility of a seasonal air-supported dome alongside this project to ensure we have done our due diligence in pursuing four-season recreation for the community. What we found was that it wasn’t recommended at Ed Eggerer Athletic Park due to factors like soil, available space and the running track; but also because of the annual operational cost to taxpayers,” says Anderson. “A field house will be considered in future phases of the SW recreation centre.”

A feasibility study for an artificial turf field was done by the City and the Artificial Turf Field Society in 2021. The study investigated whether Ed Eggerer Athletic Park could accommodate an artificial field. 

$6.5 million is currently allocated for the project through the most recent budget, the cost of how much the project will be is still yet to be determined.

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