Maple Ridge residents should be enjoying their new swimming pool and hot tub by the fall, when the long-discussed renovations at the Maple Ridge Leisure Centre wrap up.
“The multi-million question is – when will it be finished?” Coun. Ahmed Yousef asked Tuesday after council had a tour of the project to see the latest progress.
The target date for opening is still sometime in August, answered Michael Millward, facilities operations manager.
The $10-million project had been due for completion this spring, but was pushed back for three months after construction snags delayed the project.
The Leisure Centre has more than 250,000 customer visits a year, the city said in announcing the project last February.
Taxpayers have been regularly updated about the project via the city’s Pool Talk feature on its website.
“Just from December to now – huge change. So I’m optimistic that August can be a target date we can achieve,” said Coun. Judy Dueck.
Coun. Chelsa Meadus suggested at council’s Tuesday workshop that the city continue its Pool Talk feature so it could cover existing recreation programs and developments.
Meanwhile, the city is awaiting cost estimates on the ground works component of the new Albion Community Centre on 104th Avenue, which shares the same lot as c’usquenela elementary, which is currently under construction, with opening planned for September.
Costs for the Albion Community Centre have jumped from an initial $10 million when early, rough designs were considered, to a possible $18 million.
The city is seeking grants to defray the cost and is delaying the start of the major part of construction by 10 months, so it is eligible to apply for the federal/provincial grant Community, Culture and Recreation Program, that could yield another $5 million in grant money.
The city remains in negotiations with RG Properties, which owns Planet Ice, to see if there’s a possible agreement that can be made on building or operating a new ice rink at Planet Ice in the Albion flats.
That, along with the Albion Community Centre and part of the Leisure Centre improvements, were among the projects approved by voters in the 2018 alternative approval process.
