Councillors back 10-year parks and rec plan after hearing calls for more gymnasiums

Article content

A joint committee on Monday accepted recommendations from city staff on how to increase parks and recreation facilities for the next 10 years.

Article content

The draft master plan, which goes to council for approval on Oct. 13, has drawn concern from organizations about a lack of gymnasiums in Ottawa. Councillors have heard from groups, such as basketball clubs, calling for the city to develop more gymnasiums, even if that means retrofitting single-pad hockey arenas.

But recreation staff said it’s not that easy, since the city would have to figure out which arenas to target for transformation, plus spend between $2 million and $3 million for a bare-bones conversion.

Kevin Wherry, manager of parks and facilities planning, pointed out that an arena is essentially a “giant barn that’s unheated,” so it would take significant work to change the use of the building. The multimillion-dollar cost estimate for conversion doesn’t include the fit-up expenses, like gallery seating and a spring hardwood floor for basketball.

Article content

On top of that, the city isn’t in the habit of operating standalone gymnasiums.

Councillors who sit on the planning committee and community and protective services committee debated the future of sports facilities and parks after hearing from public delegates about gaps in service.

Derek Firth of the Ottawa Shooting Stars basketball club said the lack of gymnasiums, especially in the city’s core, is a major barrier to allowing more youths in basketball leagues. Repurposing hockey facilities “seems like a very efficient use of space,” Firth said.

Court-based sports often rely on schools for gym rentals, but there have been access restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dan Chenier, the general manager of parks, recreation and culture, said Mayor Jim Watson and Coun. Matthew Luloff have written to the four local school boards about coordinating better public access to their gyms.

Article content

Adding a municipal gym usually means building a new community centre for up to $30 million, since the city doesn’t build standalone gyms, Chenier said.

Luloff said the shortage of gym space isn’t just a problem for downtown residents, but it impacts everyone in the city.

The city is planning to add 10 single gymnasiums over the next 10 years.

Members of the committees endorsed a motion from Coun. Mathieu Fleury for the city to consider decommissioned single-pad arenas for other recreational uses or public benefit.

Councillors also heard concerns from the public about a lack of elite-level pools in Ottawa, especially for diving.

jwilling@postmedia.com

twitter.com/JonathanWilling