Residents are invited to complete a survey on an Activity & Reception Centre in Smith subdivision that is planned to serve as an emergency reception centre and provide inclusive, affordable, accessible recreation opportunities for all members of the community.

A 5 to 10-minute survey is available for residents to share their thoughts, ideas and experience to help identify the activities that best suit our community’s recreation needs. It includes an opportunity for people to provide input on:

• Types of activities and programs
• Hours of operation
• Inclusivity/accessibility features

The survey is open from February 17 to March 3 at https://engage.cityofgp.com/receptioncentre

Background

The new Activity & Reception Centre is designed to serve many recreational and leisure needs. Additionally, it will also serve as a reception centre for City response to a large-scale emergency or disaster, that may impact residents of Grande Prairie and the region.

The facility is intended to provide a space for activities that have limited opportunity to play at other venues and fill the gap for youth that want to participate in sports. In order to accommodate a range of recreation uses and support reception centre needs, the activity space will be constructed with a concrete floor.

In September of 2020, funds from the federal ICIP-COVID 19 Resilience Stream in the amount of $4 million were allocated for this project along with the 20% matching component (municipal contribution of $800,000) required by the grant.

The Request for Proposal (RFP) for the Activity Centre was issued in November 2020 and the contract was awarded to Atkinson Construction Ltd. in January 2021. Construction is slated to begin this spring.

The City of Grande Prairie recognizes that sport, recreation and culture are integral for a healthy, vibrant community and appreciates all feedback on providing these opportunities.