Outdoor multi-sports court project moving ahead

Lethbridge residents will soon have a new multi-use outdoor court to promote active living and community sport participation.

Lethbridge City Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to amend the 2022-2031 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) project D-23 Outdoor Sports Court. Based on a unanimous recommendation from the Economic Standing Policy Committee meeting on May 17, the project will reduce its initial scope from two courts to one court at a reduced size of 185’ by 85’. The updated project will remain within the previously-approved budget of $900,000.

The new court will help address a facility gap and will assist development and expand participation across all ages within organizations such as roller hockey, lacrosse, roller derby, and others. It will include concrete surfacing, boards and screening. Unique to an outdoor court setting, once completed the facility will be open to the public for spontaneous play and pick-up games, as well as available for bookings to facilitate group practice, games and skill development.

With a location at Legacy Park, the project will now move to the next phase of design, with construction and opening timelines to be determined.

“Similar to the recent decision to move ahead with the pickleball court project, we are pleased to be moving ahead with this project in a financially-prudent manner,” says Mayor Blaine Hyggen. “On behalf of Lethbridge City Council, I want to thank our Administration for coming up with a creative solution and re-scoping of this project in order for it to proceed.”

City Administration has been working with the Lethbridge Sport Council, Roller Hockey Lethbridge, Lethbridge Lacrosse Association, and the Lethbridge Roller Derby Guild, to scope this project so it meets the community’s needs in a fiscally responsible manner.

“We are pleased to be moving forward with this court and to offer our residents a new outdoor space for a variety of activities,” says Blair Richter, General Manager of Parks & Cemeteries. “The Lethbridge Parks system continues to offer an environment that fosters responsible social interaction which contributes directly to the overall health, wellness and quality of life in the community.”

"The Lethbridge Sport Council and its members are pleased to see City Council support the need for outdoor arena style sport courts,” says Susan Eymann, Executive Director of the Lethbridge Sport Council. “Investing in sport facilities is an investment in our community's health and well-being. This will provide more opportunities for all ages to enjoy free outdoor recreation activities and to help develop more opportunities to take part in sport.”

The initial project proposal was to construct one court with a budget of $762,000. During CIP deliberations at Economic SPC in May 2021, the initial resolution was amended to increase the funding from $762,000 to $900,000 to build two courts instead of one. During the preliminary design, however, estimated costs to construct came in over budget as material costs have risen significantly since the approval of the CIP. As such, a change of scope or an increase in funding was required before the multi-use court project proceeded.