Plans of a new recreation centre in Aurora, Ont., deemed as unaffordable

by arslan_ahmed | August 10, 2023 1:50 pm

The Town of Aurora’s long-standing objective of establishing a new community recreation complex, as outlined in its 10-year capital plan, is currently not feasible in the near future, according to municipal officials.[1]
The Town of Aurora’s long-standing objective of establishing a new community recreation complex, as outlined in its 10-year capital plan, is currently not feasible in the near future, according to municipal officials.

The Town of Aurora’s long-standing objective of establishing a new community recreation complex, as outlined in its 10-year capital plan, is currently not feasible in the near future, according to municipal officials.

According to a report by the Local Journalism Initiative[2] posted by Yahoo News, a recent document presented to the town council, Robin McDougall, the director of community services for Aurora, stated the financial burden posed by development charges (DCs) and the payments made by developers to address growth-related necessities, represents a notable constraint when it comes to making substantial investments in facilities.

“The new recreation centre cannot be accommodated within foreseeable financial circumstances,” says McDougall. She provided further insight into this matter with a report that elaborated on the planned single gym within the Stronach Aurora Recreation Complex.

The 2023 budget allocated $42 million for the design and construction of the new recreation centre. The Local Journalism Initiative report further highlighted that McDougall revealed a comparison of costs with other projects in the York Region, indicating the town would require around 2.8 ha (7 acres) of land, valued at $2.7 million per acre, and totalling an estimated $18.9 million. In addition, considering a recreation centre similar in scope to the one in East Gwillimbury, which was bid at $67 million for construction, the total cost would be $85.9 million—encompassing both land and construction expenses.

She pointed out that even after excluding the new recreation centre, this expense would remain unaffordable for a substantial duration and certainly not within the next decade. Without significant funding from higher levels of government or tax hikes, it is unlikely for the town to afford this project within the next two decades.

Endnotes:
  1. [Image]: https://www.poolspamarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Aurora_ON-scaled.jpg
  2. Local Journalism Initiative: https://ca.news.yahoo.com/long-planned-recreation-centre-aurora-005819197.html

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