Indoor turf, fitness facility at The Fenlands
The Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre will be getting a summer indoor turf field and a fitness room this year. Council approved the purchase of the turf and equipment for a cardio/free-weight room. This change will not affect ice use in the winter months.
Following the loss of former tenant in The Fenlands, the Banff Hockey Academy, which was the sole occupant of approx. 3,750 square feet in the facility, the Town conduced a public input process to find out what residents would like to see in the now unused portion of the building, and to increase year-round community use.
A fitness centre was the activity most frequently identified for the vacated space during the public engagement process. The seasonal indoor turf for activities like soccer, football and ultimate frisbee was also one of the most popular space uses identified in the two-phase public engagement.
The total cost to invest in the summer turf/storage and a fitness room is $281,380. Of that, the Bow Valley Primary Care Network is donating $65,000 worth of fitness equipment. The remaining $216,380 is being funded 50% by the Town and 50% from a donation by the Wim & Nancy Pauw Foundation.
The public engagement process identified other potential uses for additional space in The Fenlands (see documents at https://banffviewpoints.ca/fenlands) which will be discussed in next year’s budget process.