Delta council on Monday endorsed a recommended site option for the new Winskill Aquatic and Fitness Centre, a project that will carry an estimated price tag up to $130 million.
Staff made a presentation on the various options and the results of the first round of community engagement, which included residents, user groups as well as youth, on not only the most suitable location but also what features are most desired within the facility and park area.
It was noted that relocating the facility to the South Delta Recreation Centre would not be feasible due to the limited site size, which would require a major site redevelopment that would likely more than double the cost of the project.
Following a technical analysis, a “refined” north option for the facility’s location was chosen as it rated the highest and means greater tree retention in the southwest corner of the site.
The plan, which is to proceed to a design phase and further consultation, includes a 10-lane, 25-metre pool to be built in the northeast corner, just south of the lawn bowling club on 56th Street. It also involves moving the 13U baseball diamond to the northwest corner of the site, while existing 18U and 15U baseball diamonds will remain in their current locations.
The city last week noted that, during the engagement program, the preference for tree retention led many participants to support the west option. However, the updated north option incorporates that feedback by reconfiguring the parking area, while deferring further work on a future fourth baseball diamond pending the results of a field use analysis.
It was also noted that many people indicated they valued the natural areas, however, regardless of the option, many of the park trees have been found in need of removal and replacement due to safety.
A staff report notes that Delta retained an independent arborist to complete surveys and reports for the Winskill Park trees in 2020. Two reports were completed, with an updated field review in June 2024.
The updated surveys showed that approximately 46 per cent of the trees are in poor condition. Of the 490 trees surveyed, only 16 are in good condition, while 247 are in moderate condition and 227 are in poor condition, the report notes.
All three options would result in significant tree impact, ranging between 354 and 413 removals depending on the option, when considering a fourth baseball diamond.
Opinions were “split” when it comes to adding the fourth diamond, council was told, but later during their discussion they agreed not to defer but to have staff report back in a couple of months following further talks with field users.
The anticipated timeline for the Winskill project would see groundbreaking in 2025 with the new facility opening in 2027, at which time the old building would close.
The future of the facility has been talked about for years with various condition and feasibility assessments, including an earlier recommendation to proceed with renovations rather than an entirely new building. Later analysis found it more feasible to simply build a new structure.
