$144 million Kitchener rec complex approved at council

A long awaited Kitchener recreation complex is heading to city council Monday evening for approval.

After asking for changes to the purposed design, Kitchener council will decide Monday on whether to move forward with the facility. It’s planned to be built at RBJ Schlegel Park.

At a committee meeting back in March Micheal May, general manager of community services with the city of Kitchener explained one of the new additions to facility’s design.

“The facility includes a larger FIFA-sized indoor soccer field, that can be divided into four individual fields to allow more residents to use the turf at the same time.”

All of this comes with a hefty price tag of $144 million. However, city staff note that cost won’t impact local taxes.

“Construction of this facility will have no impact on municipal taxes, and will be funded through a combination of federal and provincial grants as well as revenues from development charges.”

The complex is also being touted as the city’s first net-zero carbon facility using geothermal heating and cooling and solar panels on the roof.

Using that technology, May claims the facility will save the city $100,000 per year.

UPDATE:

City of Kitchener council has voted to go ahead with a new rec plex, boasting a full FIFA-sized indoor turf soccer field and other features.

After the Monday night council decision, construction on the new indoor recreation complex can now begin next month.

Aside from the soccer field, the new rec plex at RBJ Schlegel Park will feature an aquatics centre, a walking track, an indoor cricket batting cage and a multi-purpose athletics space.