Architects drawing of the proposed multi-purpose recreation facility in Meadow Lake. (submitted photo/City of Meadow Lake)

By Nicole Reis

MULTI-PURPOSE FACILITY

Plans for multi-purpose recreation facility in Meadow Lake delayed

Aug 7, 2020 | 2:18 PM

The City of Meadow Lake has been denied provincial funding to build a multi-purpose recreation facility under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program the city discussed in April.

In the letter issued to the city, the province stated the funding requests exceeded the amount of available funding.

“With the infrastructure grant being denied, the city will not be proceeding with the project this year, especially in light of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic,” city clerk, Jessica Walters, told meadowlakeNOW. “Aging recreation infrastructure continues to be a priority area of discussion for council.”

Eligible project costs under this grant would have been cost shared between the federal (at least 40 per cent), provincial (up to 33.33 per cent) and municipal governments. The original application deadline was March 31, but was extended to May 15 due to the diversion of many communities’ resources to COVID-19 responses.

The 2020 capital budget included concept design and community consultation work on the project which was temporarily paused during the city’s COVID-19 response planning. The initial price information received an estimated $12 million for construction costs.

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Floor plan of proposed multi-purpose facility. (submitted photo/City of Meadow Lake)

“We will continue to discuss this project with the community and apply for other grant opportunities as they become available,” Walters said.

The proposed multi-purpose facility incudes a new library, ice arena, squash or basketball courts, a banquet/meeting space, and city offices. The site is intended to offer recreational activities all year and serve surrounding communities.

In the city’s community survey issued in February, a majority of the 331 respondents strongly believed recreation services are important and provide value to the community however, whether the community supported the project was not clear.

“We have most of these facilities now. We do not need higher taxes,” one survey respondent said.

Another respondent asked the city to consider the economic impacts of providing space that is in direct competition with private businesses operating in Meadow Lake.

“Careful and thoughtful planning, led by an architect who specializes in such projects, can result in a facility that truly suits the needs and character of the community for the foreseeable future,” another respondent said. “I also urge extensive input (and listening to that input) from the managers and staff of current facilities.”

The city plans to engage residents through an additional survey to be announced at a later date. The denial of funding was expressed at the latest council meeting on July 27.

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nicole.reis@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @nicolereis7722