Thunder Bay pools, arenas, community centres to see changes

Neighbourhood pools, arenas, community centres and recreation programs will go under themicroscope over the next few months, as a consultant fine tunes Thunder Bay's recreation and facilities master plan.

The document, which will have recommendations ready by the fall, includes studying arenas, community centres, pools, older adult facilities, beaches andPrince Arthur's Landing as well as recreation programs throughout the city.

Jonathan Hack, one of the directors of Sierra Planning and Management, said demographics will play a key role in recommendations.

He said the idea of moving services out of some neighbourhoods, and focusing them on others may concern some people, but services need to be where the user population is located.

Hack said the city's arena's, for the most part, are in good shape. The Fort William Gardens isin the worst shape of all the city owned arenas. The city will need to spend $16M over the next two decades to keep arenas at their status quo.

However, the report notes that some arenas may need to be decommissioned, and then replaced with more modern arenas, that would have more services.

Hack said the Fort William Gardens is a prime example of a site that needs redevelopment.

"The site is quite tight. You've got curling on there," he said."It's a small membership, but it's important. It's something that communities have. There are two clubs in town. Do you keep Fort William Gardens going just to serve as curling?I'd say you don't."

Hack said pools will also get placed under the microscope, withDease Poolbeinga prime example of a facility that needs work.

"This master plan should say it gets decommissioned. What it gets replaced with, on site, is the key question."

Hack noted community centres in the city are important, but they need to get a facelift. He said in more and more cities, the centres are more than just a large room with a kitchen and meeting space. He said they need to become more of a community hub.

One example includes incorporating pools, libraries, fitness rooms, walking tracksand gymnasiums into community centres.

A public meeting highlighting the plan will take place on Wednesday, May 25 between 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. at the Italian Cultural Centre.