On June 18, 2019, Council decided to move ahead with a strategy to:

  • Construct a Recreation Complex 
  • Expand and improve the Preston Memorial Auditorium to make it a twin pad facility
  • Plan for decommissioning of John Dolson Centre Pool, Karl Homuth Arena, Duncan McIntosh Arena and Dickson Arena as new or improved facilities become operational
  • Review a proposal from Buckingham Sports Properties about expanding the Cambridge Sports Park to be a four-pad facility
  • Work with municipal and other groups in the Region to explore opportunities for a 50 m pool within the Region of Waterloo

Read Mayor McGarry’s statement on the decision. This decision was made by weighing the collective feedback received from the community through extensive public consultation while also keeping top of mind that the end result must be an affordable and timely solution that is in the best interest of taxpayers, sports and recreation groups and the community.

Map of Recreation Facilities

View the map in fullscreen.

Progress to Date

Cambridge Sports Park 

On June 8, 2021, City Council directed staff to finalize a partnership agreement with Buckingham Sports Properties to expand and modernize the Cambridge Sports Park Facility as outlined above.

Cambridge Sports Park - Redevelopment Update

On January 6, 2022, City Council approved a partnership agreement with Buckingham Sports Properties to expand and modernize the Cambridge Sports Park Facility. Read the full news release here.

Under the proposed terms and conditions, Buckingham Sports will fully fund the capital, operating and ongoing maintenance costs of this project. The City will be able to purchase guaranteed ice time to service the needs of residents and sports and recreation groups.

It is anticipated that the expanded Cambridge Sports Park could open as early as the 2023-2024 ice season.

The improved facility will be home to:

  • Updated existing twin pad
  • Two new NHL sized ice rinks
  • Twelve dressing rooms
  • Accessible shower and washroom facilities
  • Two referee rooms
  • Spectator seating of a minimum of 400 seats on one new pad and up to 300 seats on second new pad
  • Spectator seating of 100 seats each on existing ice pads
  • 2,000 square feet of secured, accessible, ventilated climate-controlled storage and office space for the City and sports user groups
  • Sledge hockey facilities on one ice pad
  • Heated lobby

Ice Time Agreement

  • Under the proposed agreement, the City will have 2,800 hours of ice time (2,400 hours during prime time and 400 hours during non-prime and summer) on two new ice pads for 25 years at the established rate.
  • The City will allocate this ice time to ice users at a subsidized rate (to be approved by Council each year).
  • The City will also be able to book additional ice time as required.

 

Photo Gallery: Cambridge Sports Park will appear here on the public site.

50m pool

Staff will continue discussions with Waterloo Region Sports Hosting Office and others regarding a regional facility with a 50m pool.

Documents, reports and updates

Background

In 2014, the City completed a recreational facilities master plan that recommended the establishment of a large-scale multipurpose sport and recreational facility to meet current and future recreational needs.

Two Council-appointed task forces were formed to advance the concept. The first task force determined, through considerable public input, what components should be included in the final design of the facility. On May 16, 2016, Council approved a concept plan for the multiplex which included the following functional programming elements:

• Aquatic complex with a 25 metre – 10 lane pool, a warm water/therapeutic pool and a leisure pool with spectator seating

• Triple gymnasium

• Fitness track

• Multi-purpose rooms and display space

• 4 (four) NHL sized ice pads (design 4 pads, construct 2 pads with spectator seating in one arena pad [phase I] and 2 additional pads at a future date [phase II])

In May of 2016 a second task force was established to undertake a community consultation process related to site evaluation and to present information gathered through this process. The task force comprised of 2 members of Council; 2 members of staff; and 5 members of the public and a Chamber of Commerce representative.

In October 2017, Council directed staff to explore partnership opportunities for recreation facilities. Request for Expression of Interest (RFEOI 2017-56) was issued to request proposals from community organizations. In December 2017, Council directed staff to enter into discussions with Morguard Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT). Discussions were to explore the potential to locate recreational facilities at the Cambridge Centre. Council resolved to cancel the RFEOI 2017-56 in February of 2019 and thank Morguard REIT for their participation in this process.

In February 2019, Council directed staff to review the viability of locating recreation facilities at city-owned lands in Southeast Galt and/or the improvement of existing facilities. The Southeast Galt lands were purchased in 2007 by the City for joint development to support a new City community centre, a new branch of Idea Exchange (the Cambridge Public Library), and new schools for each of the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) and the Waterloo Catholic District School Board (WCDSB). The city-owned lands encompass 32.5 acres. Provincial policy encourages the development of community hubs to co-locate services for the neighbourhood community while maximizing the use of land. When the surrounding neighbourhoods are fully developed, a forecasted population of up to 26,500 is estimated within 1.5 km of the site (about a 15-minute walking distance). The site also known as the Joint Use Campus will be accessible from Dundas Street South, Franklin Boulevard, Myers Road, the Regional South Boundary Road (under construction), and the proposed future Regional East Boundary Road.

In April and May of 2019 staff and Council provided information to the public and sought input on the project. Further, Council invited sports user groups and residents to provide their input regarding the project at two delegation nights on Monday May 13 and Tuesday May 14, 2019.