Council approves land purchase for new aquatic and arena centre
Prince Albert city council has approved a $6.5 million land deal in a narrow vote that split councillors five against four. The city’s politicians made the decision Monday night after over an hour of sometimes heated debate that at one point saw the Mayor threaten to eject councillors if they couldn’t maintain order.
The City has big plans for the newly purchased 18-acre parcel. Phase one will see the construction of a $60 million recreation complex with two arenas and an aquatic centre. The city announced it had secured partial funding from federal and provincial governments for the recreation complex in September. Phase two will include an entertainment centre hosting a large arena. Other development opportunities, including a convention centre and branch library, are planned for phase three.
“This will put P.A. on the map,” Coun. Blake Edwards told council. “You can’t go to a hockey tournament in Saskatoon and have a large aquatic centre and play hockey right on the same site. Regina? Nope.”
City Manager Jim Toye told paNOW the City should be ready to put construction of the new facility out for tender by June of 2021, with shovels in the ground by September of that year.