As part of the City of Penticton’s Civic Places and Spaces plan, the next step in addressing the community’s aging arena infrastructure will see the development of a business case and feasibility study for a twin-pad arena facility located at the South Okanagan Events Centre complex.
The work plan developed would include the following:
- Field Meeting: An on-site meeting to review potential locations and constraints for the new facility at the South Okanagan Event Centre (SOEC) campus.
- Review of Background Materials: An assessment of the current condition and utilization of the existing arena facilities, including financial reports and any updates to the City's Recreation Master Plan.
- User Needs Assessment: A verification of the needs for a twin pad facility, incorporating recent data and user group consultations.
- New Concept Development: The creation of up to three design options for the twin pad facility, including site plans, floor plans, and capital costing.
- Strategic Meeting with the City: A meeting to discuss the findings from the concept development and confirm the functional space program.
- Business Plan Development: Estimation of capital costs, operating financials for 20 years, and an updated review of potential funding sources.
- Reporting: The creation of a draft and final business case and feasibility assessment report.
- Presentation: A presentation of the findings to Council.
“It is anticipated that the study will be completed by December of this year. Upon the conclusion of the work program listed above, staff will present the findings to Council with suggested next steps to move forward with addressing the City’s aging arena facilities,” writes Kelsey Johnson, the City’s director of community services.
In the report, Johnson notes the future of Memorial and McLaren arenas are not part of this study. “Analysis and engagement undertaken to date has clearly identified the need for feasibility planning for two new sheets of ice, to maintain service levels, with the understanding that both Memorial and McLaren will need to be decommissioned as arena surfaces in the near future as they have reached the end of their useful life. Beyond decommissioning these facilities as arena surfaces, the future of these two buildings and the land they sit on will require additional planning and analysis, outside of the Arena Feasibility Study, for Council consideration,” says Johnson.
The proposal is going to Council at the August 20th meeting. The full report can be found at www.penticton.ca/agendas