Millions slated for new rec centres in Burnaby by 2026
Posted January 25, 2022 8:32 am.
Calling it “the most ambitious capital program in its history,” the City of Burnaby is working on several multi-million-dollar transformations of recreation facilities over the next five years.
City council unanimously endorsed the city’s $504 million Financial Plan for 2022-2026 project on Tuesday.
Mayor Mike Hurley says it’s a pivotal moment for Burnaby and will open outstanding new facilities which serve the needs of the growing city.
“Over the next five years, we will begin opening outstanding new facilities which serve the needs of our growing city both today and into the future,” Hurley said in a release.
The transformation will include the construction of a new pedestrian and cycling overpass over Highway 1, promising to provide a safe link between Burnaby Lake, Deer Lake Park, and Robert Burnaby Park. That project is slated to cost $19,862,100.
A rendering of the new Burnaby Lake Sports Complex, which will include multiple pools, multi-purpose rooms and an NHL-sized arena. (City of Burnaby)
The city also intends to build a new Burnaby Lake Aquatic and Arena Facility, which will replace the CG Brown Pool and Burnaby Lake Arena. It will include an NHL-sized arena and several pools and multi-purpose rooms and is set to cost $155 million to build. The Rosemary Brown Arena will also be redeveloped and updated.
The Confederation Park Community Centre is also set to be redeveloped to connect with the Eileen Dailly Pool and McGill Library.
Residents are also promised a new community centre to serve the emerging Brentwood Town Centre.
Statistics Canada estimates Burnaby’s 2021 population was roughly 261,000, an increase of more than 13,000 residents since 2017. It’s among the fastest-growing municipalities in the province, and is the third-largest city in B.C.
A photo from the Financial Report by the City of Burnaby showing the age population in the city as per 2016 census data. (City of Burnaby)
However, the report on the city’s finances admits the operating budget does face “significant stress due to high inflation, contractual increases such as union collective agreements, the most recent RCMP contract, and significant cost increases from Metro Vancouver’s utility services.”
The Financial Plan reflects a 2.95 per cent property tax rate for 2022 and accounts for the higher-than-anticipated RCMP collective agreement, estimated collective agreement wage increases, and other inflationary increases of core services and programs.
