Fredericton adopts recreation plan that would put millions into infrastructure

Fredericton city council has approved a consultant's report recommending millions in spending for new sport and recreational spaces, including an aquatic centre.

Councillors voted Monday to adopt the plan, which also recommends the city build two new indoor ice surfaces, a multi-sport gymnasium and a six-field baseball complex.

Aside from specific infrastructure recommendations, the plan also includes guidance around improving city-owned parkland spaces, trails and recreational programming.

"That theme of 'recreation for all,' I think, really is what runs through the report continually," said Coun. Ruth Breen, referring to one of the plan's guiding principles.

Breen said that guiding principle resulted in recommendations for broadening the sort of amenities and programs the city offers at its parks and recreation centres.

She said an example of how that's already being implemented is the city's move last summer to install new barbecues in some of its parks, including Odell.

"So I think that's what's really impressive about this plan," Breen said. "It's doable."

The plan was put together over 18 months by consulting firm Sierra Planning and Management and is expected to guide the city for the next 15 years.

It recommends a new baseball complex be built in the next five years, with an estimated price tag of $15 million.

Construction of a multi-sport gymnasium is recommended for sometime in the next five years, with the project estimated to cost between $35 million and $45 million.

The new aquatic centre is also being recommended for construction in the next five years, with an estimated price tag of $71 million.

Breen said going ahead with any of those projects would still require a vote by Fredericton city council.

"So those, if I'm not mistaken, are the three really large projects, and of course those will all come before council for budgeting and costing," Breen said.

"The beauty of the plan is that it's not just about those big capital projects. It's about citywide playgrounds, parks, splash pads, swimming lessons, the whole scope."

Funding partners for new pool still in question

The city has long pursued a new aquatic centre, particularly in light of the University of New Brunswick's plan to close the Sir Max Aitken Pool, where the city's competitive swim clubs are based.

Part of the newly adopted recreation plan encourages the city to turn to the regional service commission when it comes to large capital projects it considers to be regional in nature, such as a new pool.

However, the city's prior attempt to do so didn't go as it had hoped.

Last May, a committee within the Capital Region Service Commission recommended the new pool be considered regional, with a cost-sharing formula based on population, tax base and proximity to the pool.

But in June, members of the commission's board — made up of the mayors of the surrounding municipalities — voted down three separate motions to categorize the aquatic centre as regional, sub-regional or local.

The city then turned to the Local Governance Commission for help but was told it wasn't in a position to weigh in.

Despite those setbacks, the city is still trying to get the project regionally funded, said Sara DeGrace, the deputy chief administrative officer.

"We continue to advocate to the provincial government and anybody who'll listen, that it's a regional facility and [to] bring the region on to help fund that facility," DeGrace said.

DeGrace said the city is in discussions with the provincial government over what the next steps should be.

She said the city also has asked the Office of the Ombud of New Brunswick to review of the regional service commission's vote on whether the pool should be considered a regional project. The city is still waiting for a decision, she said.