City of Chestermere moves ahead with plans for long-awaited civic rec centre

After years of consultation and research, the City of Chestermere is building a new $39.5-million civic recreation centre.

Chestermere Mayor Marshall Chalmers says the project is an important one, as Chestermere has seen significant growth in recent years. The city is the third-fastest-growing community in Canada and second in Alberta to only Airdrie.

"With growth comes needs for the community and currently the only indoor recreation facility that our community has is our aging rec centre," said Chalmers.

"While that aging rec centre has been an important part of our community, and it still is, there are many features that it doesn't currently offer to our citizens."

The new centre will be located just off Merganser Drive in the new community of Dawson's Landing, across the street from two future schools. The plans for Phase One of the 11,000-square-metre facility were designed by Gibbs Gage Architects.

"We look forward to this really being a regional hub and working with our neighbours to ensure that together we can support the needs of the region." - Marshall Chalmers, Mayor of Chestermere

The project, which will be funded by developers through offside levies and government grants, is expected to be completed by 2023.

According to the City of Chestermere, the current indoor designs for Phase One include a full-size FIFA and multi-sport field, walking track, changerooms, wellness centre, team rooms and community space. The new facility will provide year-round space for close to 20 indoor field sports, such as soccer, rugby, cricket, ultimate frisbee, field hockey, football, softball, lawn bowling and lacrosse, as well as community rooms and a wellness centre for fitness activities and exercise therapy.

Courtesy of the City of Chestermere

The outdoor designs include gathering spaces, multi-season amenities (e.g., basketball courts that can be flooded to create an outdoor skating rink in the winter), sports fields, bicycle parking and transit accommodations. Future phases could add arenas, additional outdoor fields, a municipal building and library, and an aquatic leisure centre to the mix.

Chalmers says City of Chestermere staff have been reviewing the recreation and fitness needs of the community since 2014. In 2020, the City explored the feasibility, cost of access and servicing, and technical requirements for the new facility prior to bringing site selections to council.

"The regional context is very important to us . . . We are building it for the people of Chestermere to fill the needs of our community, but we're also very excited to welcome others who need a place to play," he said.

"We look forward to this really being a regional hub and working with our neighbours to ensure that together we can support the needs of the region."