The first phase of the Brennan Park Recreation Centre Green and Accessibility Retrofit Project will begin on Monday, April 1, with upgrades to the ice arena change rooms.
The changerooms will be closed to the public from April until late August and will require ice users to arrive at the centre pre-dressed before using the arena until the end of May. The renovations will include a new accessible changeroom, upgraded flooring, paint, entry and bathroom stall doors, handwashing basins, and new lockers.
Here are some key takeaways:
Arena changerooms closed April 1 through approximately late August
Arena closed May 31 through approximately late August
Arena washrooms will remain open
Minor parking impacts due to construction
Minor tree removal near pool lobby entrance
Pool lobby entrance closed from summer 2024 until spring 2025. Customers to use arena (main) entrance for pool access
Site preparation and foundational work for staff administration area expansion to begin in the summer
The ice arena’s roof insulation will be replaced in June following the annual ice removal and will reopen to the public in the fall. Improvements to the staff administrative area near the pool lobby will also begin in the summer, which will involve closing the pool lobby entrance and removing two trees and surrounding shrubs for foundation work. This is the first of several phases of construction planned over the next two years to retrofit the building.
“It is an exciting time to see these initial upgrades begin on our much-loved Recreation Centre,” said Mayor Armand Hurford. “Upgrading the Centre has been in the hearts and minds of Squamish residents for over ten years now, and this year marks the beginning of real progress in delivering the community’s vision. Brennan Park is the backbone of recreational activity in Squamish, and we are eager to see its transformation over the coming years into an adequate, appealing, and accessible Recreation Centre for the whole community to enjoy.”
The Green and Accessibility Retrofit Project is partially funded by an $11.7 million grant from the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings program (Infrastructure Canada). The big vision for the future Centre will include a second ice rink, and a second pool will be planned once further funding becomes available. The District has applied for a second grant of $14 million to upgrade the exterior walls of Brennan Park, which is currently waiting for Provincial/Federal Government approval.
The district says it will continue to notify the public and users about all impacts to the Centre’s use and programming over the next two years during the renovations.
