Township of Langley Council has authorized expenditure of $280,000 for structural enhancements to the base building and footings that will allow for future construction of a canopy over the six-lane, 25-metre outdoor pool that will be built as part of the Aldergrove Recreation Centre.
In late February, council will receive further information and decide whether to include the canopy in the construction project, which is to be completed in May of 2018, or to retain the option to add it on in the future.
Constructing the canopy, which will feature wood laminate beams and steel columns with no walls, would cost an additional $1,574,600.
“Council gave serious consideration to fully enclosing the pool and making it an indoor facility, but there are significant capital costs involved, along with even more significant operating costs,” said Mayor Jack Froese.
“This facility will be used by people of all ages and interests, all year round, and will complement — not duplicate — existing Township recreation and aquatic opportunities.”
Approved by Township council in June of 2015, the Aldergrove Recreation Centre will be constructed at 27032 Fraser Highway, at the site of the former Aldergrove Elementary School.
Along with the outdoor pool, it will feature a two-level, 550-seat arena, fitness centre, indoor walking track, and multipurpose rooms.
The outdoor water park will include waterslides, tidal pool, current channel, a children’s’ aqua structure, playground, and picnic area.
An environmentally conscious project, the $26 million complex will heat the pool in the fall and winter with excess energy produced from cooling the ice.
Froese noted that the Recreation Centre will draw people from throughout the region to downtown Aldergrove and be a great step towards revitalizing Aldergrove’s Downtown Core.
An update on the project was provided to Council on Dec. 14 by Township staff, who noted that deconstruction of Aldergrove Elementary School is now in progress and expected to be finished in March, 2016.
For more information, visit tol.ca/ARC