A $5.9-million facility that will be home to a wide range of recreational programs is now open in New Westminster.
The 12,000-square-foot Queen’s Park Sportsplex will provide space for programs once offered in the Arenex, including gymnastics, trampoline, ball hockey, badminton, volleyball, basketball, pickleball and other indoor sports.
“It will be a phased opening,” said Jay Young, the city’s manager of recreation services. “The focus is going to be getting the gymnastics and trampoline programs running, and Motoring Munchkins as well.”
The Sportsplex, located next to the new skatepark, replaces the Queen’s Park Arenex, which was destroyed after its roof collapsed in December 2016.
“We are very excited to have the building open to the community. We are sad that we can’t open the doors the way that we’d want because of COVID,” Young said. “On a personal note, I am really proud of the fact that this project started out talking about a temporary structure, a temporary fabric tent. There is nothing temporary about this building. This is a building that will stand the test of time and is something that we can be proud of. It has been designed to accommodate all programs that took place at the Arenex.”
Young said $4.5-million for the project came from insurance related to the Arenex, $1.1-million was from a grant and the rest was funded by the city.
Dean Gibson, the city’s director of parks and recreation, said the city is disappointed it’s unable to invite everyone into the space the way it would like. When the time allows, he said the city looks forward to giving this “fantastic recreation facility” the public opening and celebration it deserves.
“We would love to get everyone in there as soon as possible, but with COVID we are being slow and gradual in our opening,” Young said. “We want to ensure, the building – now that it’s open, that we can keep it open and serving the community.”
A press release from the City of New Westminster said the unique facility requirements for gymnastics and trampoline programs (such as the setup and take down of equipment) has limited the city’s ability to offer a full complement of lessons and programs since 2016. Along with the Motoring Munchkins preschool playtime program, gymnastics and trampoline will be offered in the first phase of programming, with other programs to follow over time.
“There isn’t a firm timeline. We are taking it day by day,” Young said. “Right now, our priority is getting gymnastics and trampoline going, mainly because the other programs can run at other places and other facilities. There’s a significant difference between having a basketball or a ball hockey game going versus setting up gymnastics and trampoline.”
To ensure participant safety, gymnastics and trampoline programs will adhere to Via Sport return-to-sport guidelines and approved safety plans, which include health checks for participants, the wearing of masks by staff, enhanced cleaning protocols and equipment disinfection, and limited numbers of programs running at one time.
“Access is limited to the participants,” Young said. “Even parents, who want to come – there will be limited access for them to come in but they won’t be able to stay in the building. That is strictly COVID protocols. It’s not what we want, but just like with the arenas and the pool, we limit the number of people in the building. Clearly our priority is getting participants in there.”
According to the city, environmental sustainability and energy efficiency were driving principles in the construction of the new facility. The Sportsplex is equipped with features such as high-performance passive heating and cooling units; solar panels have been installed on the roof.
“I’m thrilled that the Queen’s Park Sportsplex is now complete and ready to welcome participants back to many of the programs that were displaced after the loss of the Arenex,” said Mayor Jonathan Cote. “This new-and-improved facility not only provides an enhanced program space for a variety of activities, it has also been constructed using advanced green-building principles, making it the first city-owned net zero-carbon facility.”
While construction of the building is complete, some work is still taking place to the landscaping around the Sportsplex. The public plaza that’s being built outside the Sportsplex will feature arbutus trees, public art that recalls the history of the Queen’s Park Zoo, seating areas, bicycle parking, natural play elements and a basketball half-court.
Fast facts:
*Some reclaimed timbers from the old Arenex were incorporated into the Sportsplex’s office and cubby area.
*The Sportsplex includes a gymnasium, an administrative area, storage space for gymnastics equipment and washrooms.
* Along with solar panels on the roof, the Sportsplex will have a high- performance building envelope, be a zero-carbon energy source, and have low-water consumption features, enhanced mechanical systems and LED light fixtures.
*The city has designed the multi-purpose plaza space in a way that it will be able to accommodate outdoor special events.
