Recreational facilities at the Jasper Activity Centre could be closed for a significant period of time in 2018 to undergo some much-needed renovations.
The arena, aquatic centre, curling rink and multipurpose hall are all slated for extensive renovations if council approves repairing the facilities in the 2018 capital budget next year.
The estimated price tag to complete the projects is currently $6.63 million, however that price will likely fluctuate as consultants finalize their cost estimates next year.
鈥淚t鈥檚 definitely time that we put some money back into our facilities,鈥� said Yvonne McNabb, director of culture and recreation.
She acknowledged it鈥檚 a lot of money, but said replacing each facility would cost the municipality between $27 and $30 million per facility.
鈥淚f people wanted to go that route it would mean bulldozing what we have and going without a facility for a significant period of time because we don鈥檛 have any other land to build that large of a facility,鈥� said McNabb.
To pay for the project the municipality would have to pass a borrowing bylaw and go into debt.
Currently the municipality has a total debt of about $4 million and can legally borrow another $17 million. In 2015, the municipality paid about $800,000 to repay its debt, including interest.
Aquatic Centre
The Aquatic Centre is slated for major renovations in 2018.
According to McNabb, the original pool basin was built in 1956 and was a 50-yard outdoor pool. In 1988 it was refurbished and dived into a 25-metre, indoor pool, with a water slide and incorporated the existing changerooms into the design.
To upgrade the pool, the municipality would like to replace the slide and stairs, install new windows and doors, upgrade the main mechanical room and electrical panel, replace the pool鈥檚 HVAC system, install new countertops and fixtures, update the changerooms and install a new pool deck, including new tiles and grout.
The total estimated price tag to complete these projects is currently $2.12 million.
If the 2018 capital budget is approved, the aquatic centre will likely be closed for up to three months during the summer.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 know what鈥檚 behind those walls and what鈥檚 underneath until we start peeling it back so we don鈥檛 know what we鈥檙e going to get,鈥� said McNabb.
鈥淎 lot of other areas we鈥檝e been able to check out because we鈥檝e done smaller renovations in them so we know what we鈥檙e going to be facing, but the Aquatic Centre really is a big question.鈥�
According to McNabb, part of the plan includes reconfiguring the change rooms into a single, gender-neutral dressing room with private stalls.
鈥淥ur goal is to have gender-neutral dressing rooms,鈥� said McNabb. 鈥淚t will be one big dressing room with private stalls so people can dress in the rooms.鈥�
Gender-neutral changerooms and bathrooms have been popping up across the country, including at Jasper Junior/Senior High School earlier this year, but remain a sensitive topic for many communities.
鈥淲e鈥檙e going to put it out there and see how it鈥檚 received by the public,鈥� said McNabb.
Jasper Arena
The Jasper Arena, which was originally built in 1961, faces the biggest and most expensive overhaul.
Projects include a new arena floor, replacing the arena鈥檚 boards, moving the compressor room, adding additional dressing rooms, creating a double door for the entrance of the arena and installing new overhead lighting. All tolled, the projects could cost $3.81 million.
If approved, the arena would likely be closed from mid-April to early October 2018, during the off-season, according to McNabb.
The proposed renos follow a series of other repairs and upgrades to the arena over the past few years, including the purchase of a new Zamboni for $138,000 in 2015 and the expansion of the Zamboni room for $135,000.
In 2015, the municipality also replaced the arena鈥檚 overhead heaters and purchased a new water filtration system to make ice. If the 2017 capital budget is passed, the municipality also intends to replace the heating units in the stands and a hot water boiler in the dressing room.
McNabb acknowledged that some people want the municipality to build a second arena, but said there simply wouldn鈥檛 be enough demand.
鈥淔easibility wise, I don鈥檛 think we can afford a second arena in Jasper,鈥� said McNabb.
鈥淚f we had more local teams it might work, but unfortunately we don鈥檛.鈥�
Curling Rink/Multipurpose Hall
The curling rink and multipurpose hall could also undergo major renovations in 2018.
The municipality would like to replace the curling rink鈥檚 cement floor and pipes, as well as the rink鈥檚 fire protection system. The rink鈥檚 floor was built in 1979.
If the renos are approved, the curling rink will be closed immediately after its season in mid-April and reopened at the beginning of October in 2018.
The wood flooring and stage in the multipurpose hall are also slated to be torn out and replaced.
鈥淭he flooring in the multipurpose hall is parquet flooring right now and you can not get any replacements for that. We鈥檝e actually made little squares ourselves in the past so our maintenance department could replace sections of the floor,鈥� said McNabb, adding the hall was also built in 1979.
鈥淚t鈥檚 time that it needs a facelift.鈥�
She estimated the multipurpose hall could be
Paul Clarke
[email protected]
