If a new school is built at the Athabasca Regional Multiplex, it will have a far-reaching impact.
The newly-built soccer fields to the west of the building have yet to see a game, but architects are looking at building right on top of them.
ìWe want to recognize the community involvement that was used to build those sites, and we do realize that if we impact any of those sites we do need to replace those,î architect Doug Ramsey from Group2 Architecture Interior Designs stated.
Aspen View School Board superintendent Brian LeMessurier said that was a must if the school was to impact the fields in any way.
ìThat would be a touchy spot for the soccer association, and the community,î LeMessurier said. ìIf our school is accepted and we know it s going to infringe upon one or two of the soccer fields, we could then work proactively with the Multiplex board to look at where our replacement soccer fields would be.î
LeMessurier said that if the proposed school impacted the field they would be replaced before the old ones were torn out.
ìI think you would have a minor mutiny if you didnít,î Ramsey said.
Athabasca County councillor Kevin Haines was taken aback by the idea.
ìI guess I am pretty unhappy about the soccer fields,î he said. ìThat is new to us.î
Haines suggested that instead of digging up the new soccer fields, that the school be built on the other side of them as a stand-alone building.
ìIt would be a little farther walk for the kids, but not so far away that they couldnít walk,î Haines suggested.
ìYou could build the road further west, skip the soccer fields all together, and build an independent school on the other side,î Ramsey offered.
A new swimming pool could cost $23 million, according to the architects.
ìThatís where all the partnerships come in, and the ability to tag government and municipal funding,î Ramsey said.
Athabasca County councillor Denis Willcott had a problem with that amount.
ìSome of this money is going to be town and county money, not the governmentís, so when you are talking $23 million, itís going to be hard to come by,î he said. ìThere is a big difference.î
Ramsey stated that the town and county need to decide on the amount they can afford for a pool, and start designing it from there.
The other decision councillors will have to make is whether to build a four-lane or five-lane pool.
The difference is several hundred thousands of dollars, and the ability to host swimming meets.
ìIt is a lot of money, but when you consider that (the fifth lane) opens up the door for competitive swimming championships, it brings a lot of money to the community,î John Murray from JMAA Architecture said.
Athabasca town councillor Lionel Cherniwchan said that having a five-lane pool and only having three meets a year is a waste.
ìItís just like going out and building a ball diamond and only having four games a year,î he said. ìThat is a lot of money.î
The architects were curious to hear what the community thinks of the current 32-year-old pool.
ìIt loses money big time,î Willcott said, and LeMessurier added, ìItís a money pit.î
Manager of the Multiplex Rob Balay said adding a pool to the facility would make a big difference.
ìIt is going to change the energy of the whole facility,î he said.
Murray stated that the construction of a new pool might save money.
ìWith an all new pool, the operation cost should go down,î Murray said. ìThe cost of maintaining the old pool must be going up and up.î
