Councillor Charlie Hodge is hoping the new Parkinson Recreation Centre (PRC) will be a legacy for the city.
At Monday鈥檚 (Apr. 14) meeting, his first in several weeks after being sidelined by a fall, Hodge joined his colleagues in praising staff for bringing the $242 million project to the construction ready stage.
鈥淚 think that this is going to be a place where people will want to go for years to come,鈥� he said. 鈥淪omeone will be sitting on a park bench somewhere going 鈥淲ho鈥檚 great idea was this.鈥�
The project was before council for a development permit.
Once complete, the new PRC will offer five times more athletic space, two-and-a-half times more aquatic space, and three times the program capacity. It will also feature a triple gymnasium, running track, fitness area and activity rooms.
A 91-space childcare centre, food services, and a branch of the Okanagan Regional Library will be part of the building as well. Outside amenities include five playing fields, 24 pickleball courts, four tennis courts, and a sports box, and an Indigenous-themed gathering place.
鈥淗appy to see the Indigenous collaboration, the extensive bike-pedestrian connections and transit-handy dart connections鈥t鈥檚 an exciting day,鈥� Coun. Gord Lovegrove said.
In 2022, the council at that time visited several recreation facilities in the Lower Mainland as part of its decision-making process for the new PRC.
鈥淚t was the most useful and successful thing we ever did,鈥� explained Coun. Maxine DeHart. "Just about everything we added, we saw in Vancouver. What was more important is we saw what not do.鈥�
Council used the Alternate Approval Process (AAP), in June 2023, to ask residents if they agreed to the city borrowing the funds for the project, with only 3.5 per cent of residents against. Coun. Ron Cannan had called for a referendum prior to the AAP. He also questioned the PRC budget at a March council meeting.
Mayor Tom Dyas noted that the new facility is one of the biggest investments the city will see and thanked staff for their efforts.
鈥淲e truly appreciate all the work you鈥檝e done to get us to this particular point,鈥� he added. 鈥淲e are looking forward to the groundbreaking.鈥�
Construction of the new facility is expected to begin within the next two months and completed sometime in 2027. The existing PRC will remain open until then.
