Excellent idea or waste of cash? Debate heats up around proposed Surrey stadium as city launches survey
Posted July 17, 2019 5:30 am.
Last Updated July 18, 2019 7:59 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
SURREY (NEWS 1130) – A proposed new sports stadium at Surrey’s Bear Creek Park is firing up a massive debate as the city launches a survey on the subject.
The city describes the planned outdoor stadium as a “destination sports facility” which would feature a covered 2,200 seat grandstand and replace the wooden bleachers currently in place.
In the survey, people are asked what amenities would encourage them to use a new Bear Creek Park Athletic Centre, as well as asked to share their own ideas. Residents are told their input will help “build a cohesive vision and design that supports and enhances the existing attractions,” as well as “develop an understanding of the spaces required to support the enhanced track and field complex.”
Already the divide is apparent online.
The comments range from this being a “fantastic” idea to saying this should never have been brought to the table.
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Some writing in support of the project points out the facilities in that area haven’t been upgraded since the 1980s, while others suggest any new facility should be built near the SkyTrain.
A common theme is a concern that Surrey is considering this new stadium so soon after postponing a new Cloverdale recreation centre.
But Surrey City Councillor Linda Annis believes the city can go ahead with both facilities.
“I think we need these two and we need others,” she says. “Surrey is growing so quickly, there are so many young families that are moving into Surrey. I think we’ve got some 12,000 residents moving in each year and we need to have adequate recreation facilities.”
Councillor Allison Patton insists the two are unrelated projects and doesn’t see the connection.
“I think that they’re separate issues so for us in our campaign, we campaigned on the stadium so we’re following through with that and that’s something that all of the students, for example, in Surrey are able to use that facility,” she says. “The fact that it services a huge range of the community and the fact that those people living around there, as well as the students, have not had that for many years – I do understand that they may have those concerns but I see it totally differently.”
You can have your say through the online survey.
