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Maple Ridge council OKs six-month discussion on new recreation dreams

A mail-out survey, focus groups, YouTube videos, social media and public meetings will be used.
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The City of Maple Ridge has kicked off its public consultation about new rec places.

Maple Ridge council has given the OK for a six-month public consultation process that will take the civic pulse about how and where people will play in Maple Ridge.

A mail-out survey, focus groups, YouTube videos, social media and public meetings will be used to develop a long-term plan for building a new aquatic centre, more sports fields, a 5,000-seat stadium, two new ice sheets and a civic and cultural centre in the downtown that will house a museum and archives, along with space for post-secondary education.

The consultation will take place from November to March and help city council figure out what the public sees as priorities.

"This is an exciting opportunity for citizens to help shape the vision and priorities for the development of recreation facilities in the short- medium- and long-term," said Maple Ridge Mayor Nicole Read.

One part of the recreation upgrade entails new sports fields. Staff are now trying to figure out where several new fields can be grouped in order to facilitate sports tournaments in Maple Ridge.

Locations for the new aquatic and wellness centre, costing about $70 million, and the new stadium, haven't been determined.

Taxpayers will be able to vote in an alternative approval process on any new tax increases needed to pay for the projects.