Sparwood revives Centennial Plaza project

Sparwood council voted to apply for a Columbia Basin Trust grant that could help revive the Centennial Plaza stage and washroom project.

During a special meeting on May 26, council approved an application to the Columbia Basin Trust Gathering Area and Town Hub Enhancement and Revitalization grant for up to $650,000. Council also approved allocating up to $825,000 toward the project if the grant application is successful.

Chief Administrative Officer Michéle Schalekamp told council the grant opportunity fit with a project the district had previously explored but paused after the cost came in higher than expected.

“Previously, Council had explored building a plaza stage and washroom at a stage and washroom project at the Centennial Plaza. But the cost of that project far exceeded our budget and council instructed staff to investigate grant opportunities,” Schalekamp said.

Schalekamp said the district originally launched the project in 2023 with a budget of $753,000, but proposals came in between $1.2 million and $1.3 million. Staff now estimate the project could cost about $1.475 million.

The approved funding plan includes applying for the maximum $650,000 grant. If the grant is successful, the district would fund the remaining amount through $300,000 from cancellation of the municipal apartment project, $125,000 remaining from the pool leak repair project and $400,000 from the land sale reserve.

Schalekamp said the project aligns with the grant because it would support an outdoor community gathering place and build on planning and design work already completed.

Councillor Sam Atwal said he supported applying for the grant, noting outside funding would reduce the local burden.

“I’m supportive of putting the application forward to the grant and granting applications are great, reducing that burden on people in the local area as well,” Atwal said.

Atwal also asked whether the district had explored redesigning parts of the project to reduce costs. He said he had heard concerns from potential bidders about the roof structure, particularly the use of steel.

Schalekamp said the roof was one of the components staff had already discussed as a possible redesign item.

“Yes, when speaking to Mr. Keisner, specifically the roof structure was one of the components that was considered for redesign,” Schalekamp said. “So, if this is something that council would like to move forward with, staff will be looking at components that we can do more economically.”

Atwal said that was the kind of cost saving review he hoped to see.

“I know that I ran into a few of the people who had at least seen the package and either didn’t bid on it or had and said that was the biggest ticking point for them for cost reduction and why the bids were coming in so much higher,” Atwal said.

Council voted in favour of the grant application and the conditional funding allocation. The project would only move ahead under the approved funding plan if the grant application were successful.