Budget for new Simmons Sport Centre, set to open in October 2024, rises to $33M

The chair of Charlottetown's parks and recreation committee says he's cautiously optimistic the new $33-million Simmons Sport Centre will indeed open in October of 2024, the latest date given by the city last month.

"I emphasize the word 'cautiously,'" saidCoun. Mitch Tweel.

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"That facility is going to be there for the next 50 years. That is a major investment and it's important that we get it right and I believe we've gotten it right."

Tweel gave an update on the sports centre during a council meeting Tuesday. It was originally scheduled to open last month, but the city said that had to be delayed due to lingering supply-chain issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tweel said the project is expected to remain on the new schedule, although he noted that construction costs have gone up due to inflation.

Because it will be energy-efficient, the city has been able to tap into federal and provincial grants to help with the cost, which was originally estimated at about $25 millionbut is now set to come in about 30 per cent higher than that.

The new sports centre will include anNHL-sized ice surface with six dressing rooms, an outdoor six-lane swimming pool with three separate change rooms, a large multi-purpose room, and a two-lane walking track on the second floor.

"Our senior citizens in particular are really going to be excited and be able to take advantage of walking indoors during the winter months where it's going to be much safer," Tweel said.

The new centre will replace the existing Simmons Sport Centre, which is more than 50 years old and still in use while the new facility is being built beside it.

The old building,located on North River Road between Colonel Gray High School and Queen Charlotte Intermediate, will be demolished eventually.

Tweel said the new arena complex should provide a blueprint for future projects.

"I think the time is going to come when we need to replace Cody Banks Arena and I would like to see duplication with what we're going to experience here with Simmons."