A local non-profit is trying to ride the momentum of city council picking a site for a new rec facility and will hold a town hall on potential design options Monday.
Active Communities Alberta (ACA) is looking to partner with St. Albert on their new recreation facility on the city’s northwest, and in 2018 signed a memorandum of understanding for St. Albert to contribute $20 million.
ACA president Matt Bachewich said it has been two years since the group’s last town hall, and it is an opportunity to bring the public up to speed on how their project has advanced while getting some “energy” towards next steps.
“We think that this is an opportunity where we can bring everyone together and share the story of progress that's been made,” he said.
Since the last town hall, there have been significant strides in architectural design for the proposed $42 million facility, Bachewich said. There are a few iterations of the design which will be shown at the town hall, some of which feature additional amenities, including a full-scale aquatics facility.
Hoping for a decision on location from St. Albert city council, ACA was granted its wish Jan. 20 when councillors landed on a 59-acre site west of Ray Gibbon Drive for future community amenities.
While the land is free, hooking up the parcel to servicing could be an estimated net cost of $7.79 million, after recoveries from offsite levies.
Bachewich has previously said having a street address nailed down is essential for securing dollars from other levels of government, and he hopes to see an update on the provincial government front after Alberta’s budget drops on Thursday.
Finding funding from other levels of government will be the “final push” that will make this project a reality, he said.
In addition to presenting an update on the project and proposed design options, Bachewich said the town hall will discuss ways the ACA says St. Albert can fulfill its $20 million contribution “without needing to increase taxes.”
“We had a packed house for the last town hall and we expect to have the same again on Monday and we're excited about that,” he said.
ACA’s town hall is being held Monday, Feb. 24 at the St. Albert Inn at 7 p.m. The City of St. Albert is not involved in hosting the event, but Bachewich said an invite has been sent to all city councillors.
