Public gets closer look at rec complex plans

Substantial completion by November 2010

Posted By Ron Giofu/The Amherstburg Echo

Posted 4 months ago

AMHERSTBURG — Approximately 75-80 people attended the Verdi Club last Thursday night to hear exactly what the plans are for the $20 million Amherstburg Multi-Use Recreation Complex.

The 133,595 square foot complex being constructed at Larry Bauer Park will house such amenities as a twin pad arena with indoor synthetic playing field, an indoor three-lane rubberized walking track, a premier baseball diamond with artificial turf, an outdoor football/soccer field with artificial turf, a geothermal field, the Rotary Club’s Miracle League baseball diamond and 320 paved parking spaces with gravel overflow. There will also be a “Vista Mountain” overlooking the complex.

“This is certainly an exciting project for the town. It’s exciting for Nustadia as well,” said Ed Pavao, a project manager with Nustadia Recreation Inc. “It’s a project for everyone in the entire community.”

Max DeAngelis – representing the contractors DeAngelis Construction, Norlon Builders and Spriet Associates – told the crowd that he believes this facility will be “not like any other facility in Canada” and that they’re trying to keep it as inclusive as possible with the elimination of concrete curbs and the inclusion of sliding doors at all entrances. The contractors are also donating an inclusive playground – which would be the town’s second such park – near the Miracle League diamond.

DeAngelis said much of the construction work will be pre-engineered, meaning that the bulk of the work in the field will be assembly. He noted they tried to keep the complex as “compact” as possible so that there is a “sense of community” between all facets of the complex.

“We are committed to using as many local trades as possible,” he added, noted they are pre-qualifying many of them.

The entrance to the twin pad arena structure will feature a “town square” lobby area. Natural light will be able to stream into Rink A, the main 600 seat pad, as well as the indoor playing surface. Rink B will have 200 seats. A series of 12 dressing rooms will be between the two pads. An area that could be used as a seniors centre complete with kitchen and private office space is also included in the rink complex.

“Our design is effective and efficient,” said DeAngelis.

Debi Croucher from Indaba Marketing noted that the $2.2 million fundraising goal and announced the launch of the official Amherstburg Recreation Complex campaign website at www.arccampaign.ca where people can donate online, read testimonials and the vision for the project, news articles and more.

“It’s in great detail and will be changed and updated as we move along,” said Croucher.

The fundraising campaign office will soon be housed in the Amherstburg Recreation & Cultural Centre. Croucher also noted the inclusive nature of the project.

“The inclusiveness of the project is very unique,” she said.

Outdoor components are expected to be completed in the Spring of 2010. One ice pad is planned to be open in early October 2010 with substantial completion of the facility expected by November 2010. According to Manager of Budget Services Ivano Fregonese, he noted that the town budgeted over $23.6 million and received Build Canada Funding of $15,733,776. A handout distributed at last Thursday night’s meeting stated that “the estimated annual tax savings for an average residential household will be about $8 in comparison to the existing arena.”

Some in the audience questioned the lack of Olympic-sized pool in the facility. Mayor Wayne Hurst said “you are speaking to the choir” but noted it simply won’t be in the complex at this time.

“I think there will be a need and it’s going to take place at some time, we hope,” said Hurst.

Nustadia president Ben Sproule noted a pool is an expensive facility to run but suggested that in the future, adding a pool could include running it with waste heat from the complex.

“This particular design does lend itself to that,” said Sproule.

Cost of ice time was raised however Manager of Recreation Services Ron Dzombak said they want to get the building program going and there are no set rates for ice at this point.

“Everyone wants ice time but no one wants to pay for it,” added Hurst.

Kathy Hay, chair of the Amherstburg Accessibility Committee, said the sense of community is what everyone seeks adding that the Miracle League field will further put Amherstburg on the map.