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City of Chestermere seeking feedback on rec centre redevelopment

“We’ve been busy at the City working on ideas of what a new Chestermere Rec Centre and Park could look like for our community, and we want your feedback,” read a City news release.

The City of Chestermere wants to hear from residents regarding the redesign of the Chestermere Recreation Centre and Park, which in the future could include additional amenities to better serve the community.

The municipality’s proposal includes two concepts for review. Both options include a redesigned recreation centre in the same format, but each proposes differing utilization of park space.

The first concept design includes a road through the proposed Chestermere Recreation Centre Park, while the second concept design depicts a larger park space.

“We’ve been busy at the City working on ideas of what a new Chestermere Rec Centre and Park could look like for our community, and we want your feedback,” read a City news release. “Your voice matters to us and we have prepared an interactive survey for you to fill out.”

The survey asks residents if they feel think the City should own and manage their own recreation centre (it’s currently operated cooperatively between the City and Rocky View County, though the City intends to purchase it) and what sports and activities should take place with regards to indoor and outdoor amenities.

A question regarding a “sports hotel” is also included in the survey to gauge resident’s interest in having a restaurant onsite to support local sports tournaments and to help pay for a pool – an amenity Chestermere does not currently have, despite a population of more than 20,000 residents.

An option to provide feedback regarding meeting and activity spaces for seniors, a library and business centre for non-profit organizations, and outdoor entertainment possibilities are also included.

“We think it’s very important the City of Chestermere owns and invests into the Community Recreation Center, as other cities and towns do in Alberta,” read the news release. “We want to know if this is important to you as well.”

In the meantime, the City stated it will continue to negotiate with Rocky View County to purchase the existing Chestermere Regional Community Association (CRCA) in 2023. While the negotiations are being conducted privately, the City stated it intends to move its investment forward if the City can assume the CRCA lease with Rocky View County.

According to the press release, with CRCA’s agreement when the lease is in place, the City can begin to invest significant funds in its capital projects, as supported through the province’s Municipal Government Act. These include twin hockey rinks, a soccer field house, pool and splash park, basketball and other sport court, skateboard park, library, seniors centre, and many other potential amenities.

Chestermere’s local government previously broke ground on a new civic recreation centre in 2021, but that project was quickly scrapped after a new-look council was elected in that year’s municipal election.

The City will also be reaching out to various community groups for their input this month, according to the news release.

“Hearing from you is important to us, please take this survey and look at our concepts for the new Recreation Redesign and let us know what you think,” said Mayor Jeff Colvin in the same press release.

To access the survey, visit chestermeretoday.com/recreation-redesign-for-the-city-of-chestermere/

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