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Rec Facility Study

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1. What is the purpose of this Rec Facility Study?

The purpose of this Rec Facility Study (the “Study”) is to determine the feasibility of locating a new multi-use recreational facility with an indoor pool and ice arena in the Hammond neighbourhood. 
 
The Study will build on the foundation of the current Parks, Recreation & Culture Master Plan and the 2017-2018 recreation infrastructure review. 

2. What does the Rec Facility Study include?

The Rec Facility Study, also called a feasibility study, will focus on aquatics and ice components. However, the comprehensive approach will build on the foundation of the current Parks, Recreation & Culture Master Plan:

• Extensive engagement with public and interested parties 
• Analysis of scale and type of facility needed,
• Site analysis including development of three to four design concepts,
• Identification of additional recreation uses (building on the PRC Master Plan) such as fitness centre and indoor track,
• Archeological, geotechnical, parking and traffic assessments,
• Potential operating models and estimated costs
• Leading trends, best practices and regional facilities comparisons

3. How long will the Rec Facility Study take?

The Study is anticipated to be completed in Summer 2024. The City will provide an update to the community when the consulting firm is awarded the project followed by start dates for community engagement. Following this first phase of community engagement, the City will update the community with findings from the Study when available. 

4. What happens after the Rec Facility Study is complete?

The Study is anticipated to be completed in Summer 2024. The high-level outcomes will be to determine the feasibility of locating the facility at Hammond Community Park and to use the results of extensive community engagement to develop several design concepts.
 
If the proposed site can support a recreation facility that meets community needs, citizens will be asked to provide feedback on costing and design concepts in a second phase of community engagement.

5. If the Rec Facility Study determines that Hammond Community Park is a feasible location for a new recreation facility, how long will it be until the project is completed?

Introducing a new multi-use recreation facility with an indoor pool and ice arena is a corporate priority for the City of Maple Ridge. City Council will have the opportunity to make a decision on the project’s future in summer 2024 at which time we will now better the timelines to update the community. A project of this magnitude normally takes three to five years to complete in cases where there are minimal interruptions.

6. How can I provide feedback for this multi-use recreation facility project?

The community engagement phase of this project has yet to begin; however, a significant component of the Rec Facility Study is to thoroughly engage the public, interested parties, partners, user groups and other local and provincial agencies to ensure that diverse voices are heard, and various needs are understood. 

The engagement process, estimated to begin in January 2024, will be robust, inclusive and far-reaching. It will include public surveys, open houses, meetings, pop-up events among other innovative methods to engage residents.

We encourage you to visit our webpage for updates. 

7. This project references a fifth ice sheet; however, Maple Ridge currently does not have a fourth ice sheet. What is happening with that project?

The planning of a fourth ice sheet has been underway for over a year, and the application to expand on use of the existing Planet Ice site is currently under review by the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC). If the ALC approves the City’s application, the next steps would include detailed design, stakeholder consultation and construction. This project is estimated to be completed before work on the proposed multi-use recreation facility begins.

8. Why was Hammond Community Park chosen as the preferred site?

Hammond Community Park was chosen as the preferred site for a new multi-use recreation facility for several reasons, including but not limited to:

• Sufficient space
• Sufficient service amenities
• Accessibility via transit and other traffic corridors 
• Site ownership (Hammond Community Park is owned by the City, so it eliminates the need and expense of purchasing new land) 

9. What other sites were considered?

Other sites that were considered included existing vacant land parcels, under-utilized school sites, existing park sites, retail/commercial sites and Agricultural Reserve Lands.  

10. If Hammond Community Park is determined to be a feasible site, what will happen to the baseball fields currently located on this site? Will the legacy of Larry Walker continue to be honoured?

Should the Rec Facility Study determine that Hammond Community Park is a feasible location for the new facility and the project progresses to the next step, the baseball fields will be relocated and improved upon based on community and user group engagement.

The project team has already initiated conversations with the user group(s) who currently use the baseball fields. The City will work closely with them to identify their current needs to ensure the plans for relocation and creating a new facility meets their needs and exceeds expectations where possible. 
 
The legacy of Larry Walker is integral to the future, reimagined baseball fields. The City will work to continue to honour the legacy of Larry Walker and his contributions to the grassroots growth of baseball in Maple Ridge.

11. If Hammond Community Park is determined to be a feasible site, what will happen to Hammond Community Centre and the childcare services offered out of this location?

Should the Rec Facility Study determine that Hammond Community Park is a feasible location for the new facility and the project progresses to the next step, Hammond Community Centre will be demolished to make way for the new facility. The facility is currently at the end of its functional lifespan. 

To ensure that the needs serviced by the old Hammond Community Centre are met by the new multi-use recreation facility, user groups and the larger community will be asked for feedback that will be incorporated into the design concepts resulting from the Study. 

Community and user group engagement will be integral to help minimize the impacts that may occur because of removal of current amenities/facilities.

12. If Hammond Community Park is determined to be a feasible site, what will happen to Hammond Outdoor Pool?

Should the Rec Facility Study determine that Hammond Community Park is a feasible location for the new facility and the project progresses to the next step, Hammond Outdoor Pool will be removed. The facility is currently at the end of its functional lifespan.

To ensure that the needs serviced by the old Hammond Community Centre are met by the new multi-use recreation facility, user groups and the larger community will be asked for feedback that will be incorporated into the design concepts resulting from the Study. Community and user group engagement will be integral to help minimize the impacts that may occur because of removal of current amenities/facilities.

13. How much will the new facility cost and how might this affect taxpayers?

It is too early in the process to determine cost estimates. There are many variables to consider when determining the overall costs of a new recreation facility, all of which will be explored as part of the Rec Facility Study.

14. What is the plan for the other facilities recommended as part of the recently endorsed Parks, Recreation & Culture (PRC) Master Plan?

The City has commenced work to develop an Implementation Plan for the Council-endorsed PRC Master Plan that will guide short-, medium- and long-term investments in recreation infrastructure.  

Visit www.mapleridge.ca/prcmasterplan for more information and check back frequently for updates.

15. Why doesn’t the Parks, Recreation & Culture (PRC) Master Plan and/or recreation infrastructure reviews from the past (2017-2018) provide enough info to proceed with the new facility?

While the PRC Master Plan and previous recreation infrastructure reviews (2017-2018) provide essential insight into what the community expects from a new multi-use recreation facility, a feasibility study is vital to better understand logistical and financial implications. 

Additionally, Hammond Community Park has not been previously identified as the preferred site for the new facility. The Rec Facility Study goes beyond developing a facility concept and includes additional steps not included in previous studies and processes, such as site, geotechnical and archeological assessments specific to the preferred site. 

16. What is the City planning to do with the previous $2.5M that was identified for improvements to the Hammond Community Centre?

The City approved $2.5 million to renovate the centre in 2018 but paused this work to consider broader, long-term community needs identified through the Parks, Recreation & Culture Master Plan process. A financial proposal will be provided to Council on options for reallocation of these funds.

17. What is the City doing to meet the growing recreational needs of the residents living on the East side of Maple Ridge?

The City has recently delivered the Silver Valley Gathering Place and is planning for a significant renovation of Maple Ridge Park including the playground, spray park, washroom and parking lots. The second Silver Valley Gathering Place will be initiated at a later date. The City is also in discussions with School District # 42 on a new joint use school and park site in Silver Valley. The Albion Community Centre opened last year and planning is underway for a 4th ice sheet at Planet Ice. The City has also recently completed new beach volleyball courts in Albion, a new 2-acre park on 112 Avenue and Firehall #4 and Firefighters Park.

18. What happened to the other plans for a new outdoor pool?

The work did not go forward as the City considered broader, long-term community needs identified through the Parks, Recreation & Culture Master Plan process.

19. Why didn’t the City include a pool when building Albion Community Centre?

A pool was not in the scope of this project based upon our Joint Acquisition Agreement with School District 42 (SD42) to build a Community Centre in Albion in conjunction with the co-located elementary school.

 

The ACC acts as a replacement for the historic Albion Community Hall that was demolished in 2010 and its amenities/design were developed based upon a joint consultation process with the Albion community and SD42.

20. What happened during the previous renovation to the baseball fields?

The investments to Larry Walker field and Hammond Stadium a decade ago were meant to improve the facilities for baseball and the community.  The Hammond Stadium rebuild work was provided upgraded backstop, field lighting, renovated field and a re-orientation of the field. The recent infield conversion to red shale at Hammond Stadium was another recent improvement. That said, once the feasibility work is complete and brought forward to Council in 2024, and a decision is made to move forward with relocating the baseball fields, every effort will be made to re-use or re-purpose the work/equipment/supplies invested to-date.