Kingston begins planning the future of three major recreation facilities

By Christena Lawrie, CFRC's Broadcast Journalist and Local Journalism Initiative Reporter.

Three of Kingston’s most well-used public facilities could look very different in the years ahead.

The City has begun the long-term planning process for Centre 70, the Kingston Memorial Centre and Portsmouth Olympic Harbour. Together, the three sites host everything from hockey games and the annual Fall Fair to the Memorial Centre Farmers’ Market, sailing programs and community events.

While these facilities continue to serve thousands of residents every year, the aging sites are becoming more difficult and expensive to maintain.

Last week, the City’s Arts, Recreation and Community Policies Committee reviewed Phase 1 of the Multi-Site Visioning and Recreation Facility Capital Planning Project, laying the groundwork for what comes next by examining the condition of each property, how residents use them today, and what they want these spaces to become in the future.

The project remains in its early stages, with no final designs, timelines, or detailed cost estimates.

The Phase 1 report will be brought to Council for approval at their upcoming meeting on Tuesday, July 7. If approved, staff will move ahead with Phase 2 of the project, which involves developing more concrete plans for each site, refining cost estimates, exploring partnership opportunities, and identifying funding options and implementation strategies.

Listen to the full story here.