Here's a first look at the new rec facility proposed in Kitchener
A new multi-purpose indoor recreation facility is being proposed in the City of Kitchener.
The city is proposing to build a carbon net-zero building at RBJ Schlegel Park, featuring an aquatic centre and an indoor field.
“This is building on the existing RBJ Schlegel Park, which has a splash pad, a number of outdoor sports fields,” Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic said.
A rendering of the building's front entrance. (Submitted/City of Kitchener)
The proposal includes a FIFA-sized indoor turf field, which can be divided into smaller fields and host sports like soccer, cricket and lacrosse.
Also included in the proposal is an aquatics centre with a community leisure pool and a separate lane pool, a walking track and a multipurpose room. The city also wants to install an indoor cricket batting cage to support the year-round development of athletes.
In 2019, the city council did a study on what amenities were needed in the community. Vrbanovic said aquatic facilities and indoor sports fields were the most important to residents.
“This new facility will include an aquatic complex, indoor sports fields, and have expansion space for a future gymnasium, as well as a walking track in the building that's being proposed,” Vrbanovic said.
The proposal includes a leisure pool and a separate lane pool. (Submitted/City of Kitchener)
Vrbanovic said the Greenfield area of Kitchener is the fastest growing part of the city. He said council is aiming to intensify growth in the city, with 60 per cent or more of growth focused along major transit areas and the other 40 per cent aimed at developing Greenfield.
Not only would this facility serve residents in the southwest corner of Kitchener, Vrbanovic said it will also be used by residents across the city.
The proposal is to make the facility a carbon net-zero building. The city wants to use a geothermal heating and cooling system, and install Kitchener’s largest array of solar panels. The city said that would reduce 22 tonnes of carbon and save around $100,000 in utility costs annually.
“We believe that this will be one of the leading, if not one of the best facilities of its kind in Canada in terms of that,” Vrbanovic said.
RBJ Schlegel Park in Kitchener is seen on March 20, 2024. (Dave Pettitt/CTV Kitchener)
The facility is expected to cost $144 million, but have no impact on municipal taxes. It would be funded using previous federal and provincial grants, along with development charges. It would also be the first time the city has used an integrated project delivery model, which employs a multi-party contract to align contractors early on in the project in order to define values and design to cost.
“Taking that approach actually allows you to bring the various contractor groups and so on into the process early on. So as you're developing the project, you have a much better sense. By doing that at this point, we estimate that we've at least saved $7 million so far,” Vrbanovic said.
The project will go to the Community and Infrastructure Services Committee for consideration on Monday, followed by city council in April. If approved by the committee and council, the city hopes to have shovels in the ground by May, and the project finished by late spring or early summer 2026.
A rendering shows the park side entrance to the proposed facility. (Submitted/City of Kitchener)
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Poilievre kicked out of Commons after calling Prime Minister Justin Trudeau 'wacko'
Testy exchanges between the prime minister and his chief opponent ended with the Opposition leader and one of his MPs being ejected from the House of Commons on Tuesday -- and the rest of Conservative caucus walking out of the chamber in protest.
Baby, grandparents among 4 people killed in wrong-way police chase on Ontario's Hwy. 401
A police chase which started with a liquor store robbery in Bowmanville Monday night ended in tragedy some 20 minutes later when a suspect fleeing police entered Highway 401 in the wrong direction and caused a pileup which killed an infant and the child's grandparents, as well as the suspect, investigators say.
Man dies after suffering cardiac arrest while waiting in ER, widow wants investigation
When an ambulance took David Lippert to the hospital in March of 2023, the 68-year-old Kitchener, Ont., executive was hoping to find out why he was feeling weak and unable to walk. Some 24 hours later, he was found unresponsive in the ER.
Sword-wielding man attacks passersby in London, killing a 14-year-old boy and injuring 4 others
A man wielding a sword attacked members of the public and police officers in a northeast London suburb Tuesday, killing a 14-year-old boy and injuring four other people, British authorities said.
Conservatives push motion calling for Carney to testify, say it's about 'accountability'
The federal Conservatives made good on their promise to push for former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney to testify before MPs, resulting in a heated political debate in Ottawa on Tuesday.
Freeland previews omnibus budget bill, proposed capital gains tax change left out
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland will be tabling yet another omnibus bill to pass a sweeping range of measures promised in her April 16 federal budget, though left out of the legislation will be the government's proposed capital gains tax change.
London Drugs stores remain closed, 'cybersecurity incident' may have breached personal data
London Drugs says it is working with third-party security experts as the company tries to reopen dozens of stores across Western Canada that were shuttered by a cybersecurity incident Sunday.
McGill requests 'police assistance' over pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University says it has 'requested police assistance' about the pro-Palestinian encampment on its lower field.
WATCH Arnold Schwarzenegger spotted filming in Elora, Ont.
The name of the project has not been officially released although it’s widely believed to be the Netflix series FUBAR.