Curlers and their supporters will soon be able to stroll up a new set of stairs at Coquitlam's Poirier sports and leisure complex to view games from the second floor.
On Monday, the city's recreation committee unanimously voted to spend $108,000 to have the staircase built in time for the fall curling season. The decision still has to be formally endorsed by city council next week.
"We are very pleased," said Olympic wrestler Chris Wilson, spokesperson for the Coquitlam Sports Centre User Association (CSCUA), which has been lobbying for three years to get the stairs built.
Wilson said he was to convey the news to the 3,500 association members last night (Tuesday).
The issue has been a sore point between the city, CSCUA and the Coquitlam Curling Club since the renovated sports complex opened last fall. CSCUA and the curling club want the stairs for easier access from the south side of the curling/figure skating lobby to the second floor - not just to access the social area but also to help the older participants and supporters during the 12 bonspiels held annually.
Wilson said when the original architectural renderings were brought forward, no one noticed the stairs were missing because the floor designs were on two pieces of paper. "This was an oversight on our part," he told the committee.
During construction, the two groups weren't allowed inside to see what was going on.
Lori MacKay, Coquitlam's general manager of recreation, said the original plans intentionally did not include a staircase to the curling viewing lounge for security reasons. The aim was to create a central stairwell throughout the complex for connectivity.
MacKay acknowledged the complex is less than a year old and "its needs are evolving."
The new staircase will cost an additional $18,000 a year to maintain for extra security, janitorial services and ice cleaning because of the increased pedestrian traffic, city staff said. As well, the fire safety plan will have to be readjusted.
"I'm sorry that all of this had to occur," Coun. Linda Reimer said, directing her comments to Wilson. "It's hard to see the connection between the floors [in the drawings]. No blame should be laid on anyone. It's just one of those things."
Mayor Richard Stewart said he's also in favour of building the staircase, especially with Coquitlam pushing sports tourism in the city. "I think this is an entirely appropriate investment in making this facility the best that it can be," he said.
The $57.9-million renovations for the Poirier Sports and Leisure Complex came in several million dollars under budget, Maurice Gravelle, Coquitlam's general manager of strategic initiatives, told The Tri-City News.
