East Gwillimbury seeks public input on new recreation facility

New healthy active living plaza being designed

Yorkregion.com
June 17, 2019
Simon Martin

The future of the new healthy active living plaza in East Gwillimbury is being designed as we speak and the town is interested in hearing from residents about what they want out of the new facility.   

Council heard an update about the plaza located in Queensville that will include a swimming pool, library, gym, sports fields and child care. The facility will be located just west of Leslie Street in the middle of the new Queensville development.

The town is hosting numerous public consultations throughout the summer to ask residents about what they desire in the new facility. Residents can take park June 13 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Holland Landing Skate and Scooter Zone opening, Tuesday, July 9 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Music at Civic Square, Tuesday July 17 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Music on the Move at Harvest Hills Activity Centre, Aug. 10-11 at the Tapestry of Taste Festival at the Civic Centre and Nature Day Sept. 14 at the Ross Family Complex in Mount Albert.

Residents can also fill out a survey on the town’s website by visiting eastgwillimbury.ca  

“I think the most important thing is to look at what the people in the community want,” Ward 2 Coun. Joe Persechini said. “This is an exciting time.”

That sentiment was echoed by Ward 1 Coun. Loralea Carruthers. “I love everything I’m seeing,” she said.  

While numerous public consultations are still on the calendar the town has already gleaned feedback from more than 200 residents about the project.

Some highlights heard from the public so far include fitness centre, indoor walking/running track, aquatics program, places to meet, private study rooms, maker space and music studio, public art, skateboard park and indoor playground.

There were also unique ideas like USB charging ports, water climbing wall and nap pods offered.

The town has also visited numerous other facilities including the Oak Ridges Community Centre, Magna Centre, Brampton Soccer Centre, Springdale Library, Meadowvale Community Centre, Aaniin Community Centre and Regent Park Aquatic to name a few.

The design and site plan for the plaza is slated for 2019-2020.   The project tender is set for 2021 with facility construction between 2022-2024.

Earlier this year, General manager of parks, recreation and culture Aaron Karmazyn told council that the project is dependent on East Gwillimbury population reaching 40,000 people. In conversations with the planning department, Karmazyn said the town is likely to reach that threshold around 2023 or 2024.

East Gwillimbury is projected to grow to a population of approximately 50,000 residents over the next five to seven years. With the delays in long-term sewage servicing, the town is limited to further growth. To manage the current phase of growth, staff said they are scaling the scope of the plaza to ensure it is designed in a fiscally responsible manner. The town said it would be working with each of these partners to create flexible and functional permit and program space to allow for complementary services within the plaza. The estimated cost of the construction of the plaza was $38 million in 2016.

Last year, the town announced its plan of funding the pool by itself after investigating a partnership with the YMCA. According to a staff report, due to the delay in the Upper York Sewage Solution, a market analysis indicated membership would not meet YMCA requirements to proceed with construction of a pool and fitness centre.