A new report prepared by a consulting firm for the city of Portage la Prairie outlines the development of a new community hub in the north end, centred around the BDO Centre.
The Portage la Prairie Recreation Framework Plan was detailed to city council in a committee meeting earlier this week by a representative from Scatliff, Miller and Murray. The plan was developed in conjunction with the ad-hoc Parks Committee and details strategies to increase recreational opportunities in Portage, and how to develop a city-wide active transportation network.
The report also presents a vision for a “Central Community Hub” near the BDO Centre — essentially a massive community park that would include a variety of features, including: an accessible playground, a skateboard park, a toboggan/mountain bike hill, a splash pad, a picnic shelter, a running/skating loop, community gardens and an entry plaza.
“We had lots of opportunity to communicate with the firm on what our dreams are for that area. They took a lot of the ideas we had and turned it into a really nice looking project,” says Parks Committee co-chair Steve Hildebrand.
Budget projections for the costs of building the prospective community hub are included in the report, with a $2.5-million price tag identified to construct the entire facility with all amenities. Specific estimates are included for individual features, too, as follows: 250m asphalt running/skating loop ($200,000), toboggan/mountain bike hill and bio-swale ($300,000), accessible playground ($200,000), community band shell/picnic shelter ($200,000), water-based playground with washroom ($650,000), skateboard park phase one ($425,000), skateboard park phase two ($325,000), entry plaza to existing bulding ($250,000) and community gardens ($50,000).
Hildebrand says the Parks Committee plans to rely on community fundraising, sponsorship and grants to try to raise the finances necessary to make the hub a reality.
“We understand the city's position financially and because it's a community park, we would like the community to be involved in it,” Hildebrand notes. “As far as what we're looking for, in a big way I guess would be the permission to raise funds to make this happen. We're not looking to put the financial burden on the city ... as a community, let's raise this beautiful facility and we can all enjoy it.”
Portage la Prairie Mayor Irvine Ferris called the report “detailed and thorough” and believes it will create a lot of dialogue among council and in the community.
“Looking forward, (we will) look at the recommendations, get an idea of costs involved and then prioritize a course that works into the next budget session,” Ferris explains. “There are some things that will be moving ahead very shortly.”
Councillor Melissa Draycott, the city's representative on the Parks Committee, says the accessible park highlighted in the report is slated to be built this summer. Although the project has yet to come to council for approval, a Request For Proposals has already been issued and Draycott sounds confident it will move ahead without any issues.
“That will be exciting to have our first accessible playground in the city of Portage la Prairie,” Coun. Draycott says. “And that's just the springboard to continue what this could potentially look like for the community. I think it's important not to forget about this area. It's recreational right now, but there's not a lot of reacreation that happens right there.”
“The consultants have done a great job of giving us a vision of what we could potentially have,” continues Draycott. “But, at the same time, we don't have to put all this in at one time. It's a very phased approach. And that's sustainable for us.”
The entire report is available here.
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