Regina City Council Looking at Trio of Sports Facilities for Downtown – Regina | Globalnews.ca

The Regina city council passed an amendment Wednesday to create a committee to oversee the development of three separate sports facilities.

The new committee will look at possible replacement and reuse of the Brandt Center, a new aquatics facility to replace the Lawson Aquatic Center, and a new high-performance baseball facility.

The committee will be co-chaired by Regina Exhibition Association (REAL) President and CEO Tim Reid and City Councilor Bob Hawkins.

“I think this is a committee that will help emphasize the synergy between all these projects so that a bunch of projects, as they move forward over the next 15 years, work together to strengthen the economy of our city, our The city’s recreational possibilities, and our city’s culture,” said Mayor Sandra Masters.

The trio of proposals, if eventually approved, will shape the future of the city’s main city.

“We have seen many recreational projects, everything from a pool to a field to a football field. So what we are talking about here is a long-term plan that will transform and energize our city and that is very exciting. It is,” Masters said.

The committee will prepare recommendations regarding the three projects and other civil infrastructure projects and report back by the end of this year.

Lawson Aquatic Center which was built in 1975 and opened in 1976. It will require several upgrades to extend its lifespan.

The report states that the cost of building a new facility will be the same and as a result the report recommends the construction of a new facility going forward. With planning in the initial stages only, the estimated cost is estimated to be around $173 million and construction is scheduled to begin in 2024.

REAL was asked to submit an update on a possible replacement for The Brandt Center, the home of the Regina Pats and a multi-use area for events such as Canadian Western Agriculture.

Five different sites were assessed prospectively by Real and three were eventually short-listed, all located in the city of Regina.

The construction of a new facility will not mean that the Brand Center will be closed. REAL suggests that it be redeveloped along with new construction.

The final topic of discussion that could reshape Regina’s downtown core is a potential multi-purpose outdoor facility with synthetic turf to meet the need for a high-performance baseball field.

Details are not yet available, but on Wednesday the council is seeking $15,000 for feasibility research into the project. The Executive Committee unanimously passed a resolution to fund a feasibility study.