The new facility will ultimately replace the Steuart and Kinsmen arenas (file photo/paNOW Staff)

By Alison Sandstrom

Big infrastructure

New recreation centre on its way for P.A.

Sep 6, 2019 | 2:39 PM

The federal and provincial governments have approved joint- funding for a new $60 million recreational centre in Prince Albert.

The facility will have two ice rinks, each with seating for 800 spectators, and an aquatic centre. The city working on the final details of a land acquisition for the new project, the details of which will be made public in the coming weeks. The building plans still need to be drawn up.

“We’ll be going out to an architect and getting the designs. We’re going to be starting that next week,” City Manager Jim Toye told paNOW.

In a joint announcement made Thursday, the federal government pledged $24 million for the project. The government of Saskatchewan will contribute nearly $20 million, and the City of Prince Albert will be responsible for the remaining $16 million.

Toye said the $16 million will come from city reserves and potentially some borrowing.

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The new facility will replace the Dave G. Steuart Arena and the Kinsmen Arena. Both will continue to operate during the estimated two and a half years it will take to build the new facility.

“After that the Steuart Arena will be demolished and the Kinsman area will be repurposed for more summer/fall use. It won’t have an ice surface in it,” Toye said.

Toye added there are no plans for Public Private Partnerships for the construction or operation of the new facility.

The application for this facility was re-worked from a previous plan for a $120 million arena that would have accommodated the P.A. Raiders. The federal government rejected that application based on their interpretation of the Raiders being a semi-pro team.

City Coun. Don Cody told paNOW he was delighted with the funding approved Thursday, but the city is still working on getting the larger arena as well.

“We know that there is some urgency there with the WHL and as a result we will be doing some work on that immediately after this whole thing here has settled down,” he said.

Provincial and federal politicians in P.A. also expressed enthusiasm about the new facility.

“It’s going to be a win-win for everybody in the riding of Prince Albert not just the city of Prince Albert,” MP Randy Hoback said.

“We were in dire need of a new arena; those ones are getting old and we need new facilities… it’s a great thing,” MLA Joe Hargrave said.

With files from Nigel Maxwell and Glenn Hicks

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Alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom