Rec committee hears price range for gym options
Members agree more public engagement is needed before recommending a path to council
Sparwood’s Recreation Facility Advisory Committee heard updated cost estimates for three double gym concepts on Feb. 19, then agreed the next step should include renewed public engagement before the committee recommends a direction to council.
Stephen Slawuta, representing RC Strategies, presented estimates for three conventional construction options the committee previously asked to be costed. The lowest cost option was described as a base model double gym with a ground level track, basic washrooms and change rooms and no dedicated physical connection to the existing leisure centre. Slawuta said the facility would be about 32,000 square feet and the total construction cost, including site development, a 15 per cent contingency and escalation into 2027, was estimated at $23.3 million.
Two expanded options were estimated at $30.9 million and about $31.7 million. Slawuta said both would add a second level track and a higher ceiling span, plus a physical connection to the existing facility. The third option, with a perpendicular orientation, also included space for a multi-purpose room sized for about 20 to 30 people. Slawuta said the connection link itself could be valued at roughly $2 million, based on the cost consultant breakdown.
Asked whether the base option could be expanded upward later, Slawuta said it would be possible but likely costly, noting that adding floors after construction brings significant complexity.
Slawuta also reviewed alternative facility approaches, including tension membrane structures and air supported buildings. He said those methods can be cheaper and faster to build than conventional construction but typically have shorter lifespans and other trade-offs. Slawuta gave a conservative range that alternative approaches could land between 50 and 75 per cent of conventional construction once site work and related requirements are included, calling that “very conservatively” in the $10 million to $15 million range.
One committee participant raised another concept based on a community looking at a pole-based shell structure with siding and insulation, described as potentially costing $3 million to $5 million at a hockey sized scale. Slawuta said the best way to compare alternatives would likely be an RFP process where vendors respond to defined parameters.
After the consultant presentation, committee discussion shifted to affordability and timing. Mayor David Wilks said conventional costs have climbed sharply since the dis-trict’s last major recreation referendum conversation.
“Went up $10 million in four years,” Wilks said, comparing current estimates to the 2022 referendum cost he recalled for a two-story concept.
Wilks said he did not believe an air supported structure would meet Sparwood’s needs for heating and comfort and he noted other constraints tied to snow load and site placement for sprung structures. He said the district does not have capacity to take on a $31 million build while carrying wastewater related borrowing, adding that large scale fundraising would take too long.
“So realistically, the way I look at it, people want it. You pay for it, you do a parcel tax,” Wilks said.
A staff member cautioned that parcel taxes collected annually would still take time to accumulate before the full project cost is available, while Wilks and others noted construction inflation could continue to increase future price tags.
Several committee members urged a broader community approach rather than treating a new facility as solely a district build. Terry said partnerships with local groups and community organizations should be explored to help shape a functional project that meets community needs without aiming for the most expensive option.
Others stressed volunteer shortages and operating costs, arguing that even with partnerships, the district would likely need to remain the primary overseer. Committee members also repeatedly returned to the condition of existing assets, warning that major failures at the pool or arena would eventually force costly decisions regardless of any new build plan.
By the end of the meeting, members did not settle on a single preferred option. Instead, the committee agreed there was value in going back to residents with clear information on costs, facility conditions and constraints before making a recommendation. Staff said they would speak with RC Strategies as the final report is prepared and bring forward engagement options at the committee’s next meeting.