Park centre build could commence next spring

Construction on a new Park Community Centre will start as early as next spring, Brandon Mayor Jeff Fawcett said on Wednesday.

Fawcett told seniors about the updated timeline at a “Coffee With the Mayor of Brandon” event at Hobbs Manor, where about 20 people asked questions and raised concerns over local issues.

“Right now the tender is out for the detailed plan. So we don’t have the detailed plan back yet, but we’ll get it back right away and then the construction will start, hopefully in the spring,” Fawcett told attendees at the seniors complex, situated across the street from the community centre at 1428 Louise Ave.

“But there’ll be a lot of discussion around that,” he added. “It’s been a big project.”

Despite warnings from Park Community Centre board members that construction costs could rise, Fawcett said the $8.5-million price tag remains the final figure.

“We more or less have the plan, and the province has made sure that it’s a fixed price,” he said.

After the event, Fawcett told the Sun that officials will “descope it to the point that it can be built within that dollar amount.”

In total, the city has provided $1.4 million for the project, while the provincial government has earmarked $7 million. Heritage Co-op has also contributed $100,000.

The current structure was built in 1946. It is slated to be demolished because of safety concerns, code deficiencies and deterioration.

The new build will include a stage and 68 new daycare spaces.

Centre president Ken Friedrich on Wednesday said the board is “hopefully optimistic” that the spring timeline is accurate.

Bids are yet to go out as design work is wrapping up, he said.

“Once we go out for bids and someone takes the bid, that’s when we’ll realistically know about the spring. But I hopefully don’t see an issue with that,” Friedrich told the Sun.

The construction timeline could see the project completed as late as 2028, Friedrich said, but the hope is for a 2027 opening. Officials will have a clearer idea of the schedule once the bids are received, he said.

“We’re kind of in that phase where we’ve got to kind of wait for things to kind of fall to us.”

Other concerns raised at the morning event included sidewalk maintenance, downtown development, transit, homelessness and addictions, a new outdoor pool at the Keystone Centre and pothole repairs.

During the event, Fawcett said Brandon has seen improvements since the last election, but there are “still lots of things to do.”

“One thing I can guarantee is after the term that we’ve just had, Brandon is in better shape than it was before. Fiscally, we’re in better shape,” he said.

» alambert@brandonsun.com