Kitchener breaks ground on $144 million rec complex
Posted Jun 1, 2024 08:57:15 AM.
Last Updated Aug 13, 2024 06:59:01 AM.
Shovels went into the ground Friday at RBJ Schlegel Park for Kitchener’s new multi purpose indoor recreation facility.
The facility is boasted as being designed as one of the most sustainable recreation facilities in Canada.
When completed, it will be Kitchener’s first net-zero carbon building.
Kitchener’s Mayor Berry Vrbanovic said as the community continues to grow, this new recreation complex will help ensure the city meets the diverse recreational needs for years to come.
“The facility itself has been designed with a number of sustainable features including, geothermal heating and cooling systems and it will have the cities largest array of solar panels. It’s estimated well reduce 22 tons of carbon annually and save the city close to $100,000 in utility costs each year.”
The new recreation facility will contain a FIFA-sized indoor turf soccer field, an aquatics centre, a walking track and an indoor cricket batting cage.
The federal government invested $9.7 million into the project while Ontario put in over $8 million. The remaining $126.2 million was funded through development charges collected by the city.
The city is anticipating having the facility open by late 2026.