Would you vote to build a new pool if the referendum were held today?
Plus other questions to discover how you feel about the project
Given the kerfluffle surrounding the North Peace Leisure Facility replacement project, it’s time for another Broken Typewriter survey. It’s been six years since the first public engagement to gauge interest in replacing the current pool, and a lot of things have changed since then. According to a 2021 report, the building itself is in good condition and its remaining useful life will take it to 2071. It’s the systems inside, like the now demolished hot tub, that are the issue. That and lack of space for all the programming the city wants to offer.
At Tuesday’s NP Leisure Facility Replacement Steering Committee meeting, two recommendations were presented in a report, Proposed Project Next Steps. The report contained two recommendations, to be acted upon before continuing to a referendum. The first was that the PRRD board examine the current facility to determine the possibility for refurbishment or expansion to meet the needs of the region. The second recommendation was that the PRRD board explore grant funding and partnership opportunities to reduce the cost of the project.
Both of these recommendations came out of the third round of public engagement which was conducted this spring.
The pool that Fort St. John had prior to the current one, was repurposed after 1996 and turned into the home of the North Peace Gymnastics Assocation until a fire destroyed it in 2015.
Land has not yet been acquired for the new facility, so this cost is not included in the projections of cost to taxpayers.
Some people feel local government is being deliberately vague about the land.
Right now, some say that the project as currently presented wouldn’t pass a referendum, what do you think?
Like my carbon tax survey, this probably isn’t all that scientific, but I’d really like to hear what my fabulous readers think, so I hope you’ll all participate.