Lewis Farms rec centre ultimately gains a nod from the Edmonton city board

Key takeaways: 

• Council authorises $283M to push ahead with a long-envisioned west-end rec centre.
• A City of Edmonton rendering of the Lewis Farms district frolic centre. 

Lewis Farms rec centre receives a nod from Edmonton city council: 

Two main recreation centres in Edmonton are nearer to becoming bricks and mortar after the city council agreed on a budget in its funding considerations Tuesday. 

Council decided to finance $283 million for the long-envisioned Lewis Farms rec centre, after a move from Andrew Knack, Ward Nakota Isga councillor.

“They are gaps that exist in our city today that need to be filled,” Knack stated during the meeting Tuesday.  Source – cbc.ca

“Our pools are oversubscribed across the entire city,” Knack said. “The minute programs open up, they are booked within hours and that’s because there isn’t enough space.” Source – cbc.ca

Single-sheet ice rinks across the city are selected to be quite soon, he stated, so the halls at Lewis Farms will serve that requirement as well. 

Council voted 12-1 to support the grant, with Coun. Michael Janz the only vote against. 

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The building starts the following year on Lewis Farms, which is slated to be done by 2026.

Lewis Farms had been stalled in last years, as the council attempted to hold down tax rises.

Knack’s move for the capital grant released an academic centre part of the project, which earlier had the price pegged at $321 million.

The budget will come from the city’s deficit burden. 

“I know the cost is high,” Knack disclosed to the council Tuesday. “This project is ready to build so the longer we take, the more it drives up the cost.”  Source – cbc.ca

Sarah Hamilton, councillor for Ward sipiwiyiniwak, said in favour of the assignments, stating that Lewis Farms is almost a sports facility — it has a library, a district park and multipurpose rooms for the community groups.