A "coffee chat" today (Monday) to inform Wilson Centre members about changes to the Port Coquitlam recreation complex drew more than 100 seniors.
PoCo recreation director Lori Bowie said the strong turnout was indicative of the interest in the civic facility, which will be rebuilt over the next four years at a cost of $132 million and will include — when complete — a third sheet of ice, a leisure pool and the Terry Fox Library, among other amenities.
Part of Wilson Centre will be demolished first, at the end of March, with programming rescheduled throughout the rec centre and Leigh Square Community Arts Village.
"I think people were anxious at first but now that they've seen the plans and can visual it, they're getting excited," Bowie told The Tri-City News after the two-hour gathering.
She said two members from the Wilson Centre Advisory Board are on the redevelopment committee for stakeholders while city staff will have daily communication with Wilson Centre members about the phased construction, which is due to wrap up in June 2021.
Meanwhile, next Monday at Wilson Centre (2150 Wilson Ave.), Tri-City residents can talk to the rec centre project team, the project partner and the developer of the proposed private residential and multi-use component.
The Feb. 27 open house runs from 2 to 7:30 p.m.
• For more details about the plans, visit portcoquitlam.ca/reccomplex or follow the Twitter feeds at #pocoreccomplex. Alternatively, call 604-927-5420 for information about the mega project or 604-927-7529 for programs.
jcleugh@tricitynews.com
