Port Coquitlam's plans to rebuild its recreation complex got a big bucks boost this week after the federal government dropped $12.5 million into the city's purse.
And besides ice rinks, a pool and library, the facility will feature displays dedicated to the city's most famous son, Terry Fox.
On Wednesday — the day before the municipality put out its tender for design and construction to upgrade the 15-acre downtown rec centre site — Industry Minister and Tri-City MP James Moore announced the funding on behalf of the Conservative government.
MP Moore, who is not running for re-election, said he was especially pleased to hand over the cash given that he played minor hockey at the PoCo rink while growing up in Coquitlam.
And he was happy to fulfill a wish from PoCo city council, which after it was elected last fall, ranked the rec centre, Wilson Centre and Terry Fox Library rebuilds as its number one priority for the upcoming term.
The $96.8-million capital project will be the biggest for the downtown core and, once complete in fall 2018, will be a destination and gathering place for residents of all ages in the growing city and beyond, PoCo Mayor Greg Moore said.
It is envisioned the hub will include:
• three ice surfaces;
• a pool and fitness studio;
• youth and seniors' spaces;
• a games room, kitchen, boardroom and four multi-purpose rooms;
• a library;
• and a memorabilia display in honour of Terry Fox.
Mayor Moore told The Tri-City News the Fox family has met with PoCo city staff to discuss the proposal for a 5,000 sq. ft. exhibit in tribute of his historic Marathon of Hope in 1980, a campaign that raised millions of dollars for cancer research and spawned 35 years of fundraising efforts aimed at fighting cancer.
Mayor Moore said the city signed an agreement with the Terry Fox Foundation a few years ago when souvenirs that had been preserved in PoCo's Terry Fox Library were transferred to Archives Canada; that deal meant when the city found or built a suitable space, some — if not all — of the loaned items would be returned to PoCo for a public display.
Meanwhile, the design and construction tender that went out Thursday on BC Bid also includes a market housing component on the campus.
Mayor Moore said it would be up to the winning developer and architect to see if residential housing and/or commercial or office space could be built above the new rec centre, making use of the views of Mt. Baker.
And with housing and commercial development, the city would be able to recoup some of its costs for the centre rebuild, estimated at $82.5 million.
According to the request for proposals, the city undertook a facility condition assessment and found it would be more cost-effective to replace most or all of the existing facilities on the campus, which includes the vacant former city works yard south of Kelly Avenue.
The RFP closes Oct. 2 and will be reviewed by city staff and the project managers, Tango Management Team. More public consultation is set for early next year.
"It's the feel of this site that's going to be important to this community," Mayor Moore said. "You only get one try to get it right."
jwarren@tricitynews.com
@jwarrenTC
