Shovels were ceremonially put in the ground this week to mark the start of site work for the new Aldergrove Recreation Centre.
And in May of 2018, a one-of-a-kind recreation complex and outdoor aquatic facility will open with an arena, fitness centre, outdoor pool, and aquatic complex that can be enjoyed by people from throughout the region.
“This is the start of something very exciting for the Township of Langley and the community of Aldergrove,” said Mayor Jack Froese, who was joined by members of Township Council for the event.
The ceremony was held on September 2 at 27032 Fraser Highway, where preparatory work is now underway to make way for the new centre.
During the fall and early winter, the site will be remediated and the former Aldergrove Elementary School deconstructed. The site work is to be completed by February of 2016.
The new centre will feature a two-level, 550-seat arena, fitness centre, indoor walking track, and multipurpose rooms. The outdoor water park will include a six-lane, 25-metre pool, waterslides, tidal pool, current channel, a children’s’ aqua structure, playground, and picnic area.
The recreation complex will complement the Township’s existing recreation and aquatic opportunities and can be enjoyed by people of all ages, all year-round. An environmentally conscious project, the centre will heat the pool in the fall and winter with excess energy produced from cooling the ice.
It will also be home to the Aldergrove Kodiaks hockey team, Aldergrove Minor Hockey, the Aldergrove Figure Skating club, and an anticipated new Aldergrove Swim Club.
The centre will draw people to downtown Aldergrove and be a step towards the revitalization of Aldergrove’s downtown core.
The decision to proceed with the centre was announced by council in June, after more than two decades of planning and research, looking at various scopes and features, and consulting with user groups and the public.
“The need for this Centre is long overdue, so it was important that we start moving right away,” Froese said.
In the summer, the Township held several public information sessions to give people a chance to see what is in store, and provide their ideas and feedback. The centre is currently undergoing a procurement process for design, project management, and consulting services. The Township is also looking for parties who want to get on board as a partner, advertiser, or sponsor of the centre.
For more information, visit tol.ca/ARC.