HRM, YMCA partnership leads to more acceptable recreation centre

By RENEE FIELD
In the course of a few months, the YMCA and the city have met with close to 15 different focus groups and stakeholders within Mainland North, all in an effort to determine what the community wants to see in their new recreation facility.

The meetings, while not always well attended, have encouraged the YMCA and the city to look at the community’s needs now and in the future. They’ve also meet at least six
different times with members from the Build It Right group.

"I feel good that we’re making progress about their perspective. We will continue to do that, to learn and share what we can do for each other," says Bette Watson-Borg, President and CEO, The YMCA of Greater Halifax Dartmouth, which has entered into a partnership with the city to oversee the construction and management of the facility.

Those needs include a health and fitness centre, an indoor walking track, a full court gym with divider to encourage multi-use sports, several multi-purpose rooms that can be
expanded or made smaller with room dividers, a larger family change room space, and of course, an aquatic facility that can be multipurpose and multi-generational.

The end result is a proposal to build a 57,000 to 60,000 square foot facility will be built adjacent to the Keshen Goodman Library off Lacewood Drive in Clayton Park. That’s
more than double the size of the current Northcliffe Recreation Centre.

Besides the space and structure of thebuilding, to be called the Mainland Common Community Centre, there’s the programming, something the YMCA is very good at tailoring
to the needs of the community. "If the community wants us to be open from 7am to 11pm then we will," says Watson-Borg.

The current YMCA City road show is winding down, but the purpose of it is to get a good solid feel as to what the residents living within the catchment area, which is Rockingham, Fairview, Clayton Park, parts of Timberlea, and parts of Bedford, expect from a recreation facility. The next step is for the YMCA to hire a consultant to do a business case, and then they will start to launch their fundraising program to raise the necessary $3 million for this project.

The programming is another issue entirely. A typical day planned by the YMCA would include aqua-fit for seniors, and a parent-tot swimming or play to learn drop in program. Teenagers looking for recreational space to play hoops and expand on their swimming skills will be encouraged, says Watson-Borg.

Watson-Borg knows the location of the MCCC is crucial. That’s why she’s already talked with the Halifax West High School, located a stone’s throw away. She wants to encourage healthy, active living and plans to work with the teenagers to tailor programs to entice them to the centre.

Two pools totaling about 7,200 square feet will be built. One will be a six-lane, 25 metre pool and the other will be a warmer, multi-use therapy pool. A moveable floor will make it easier to teach swimming lessons to young children while allowing lane swimming.

"We have the capacity to serve 8,000 members," says Watson-Borg. The YMCA plans to offer before and after school care at the centre. They plan also to create a userfriendly outdoor space with a playground, outdoor
field and a picnic area.

The budget is $14.5 million for this facility. The city has contributed $3.7 million, the province and federal governments each have contributed $1.3 million and the YMCA will kick in $3 million from their capital campaign. That still leaves a $5.1 million deficit. Watson-Borg isn’t worried. She and the city plan to ask the province and the federal governments for more cash for the centre. Construction is anticipated to begin before the end of 2007.