A proposed recreation centre on the city’s south side will remain in limbo for at least the next four years. City councillors on the community and public services committee on Monday declined to make a motion to debate the Rollie Miles Recreation Centre project later this year during talks for the 2027-30 budget cycle. City administration had told the committee that building the rec centre and surrounding park, which has a price tag of $150 million, on property next to Strathcona High School is not a priority. Supporters of the project, for which community advocates have been pressing for nearly 20 years, told city councillors at Monday’s committee meeting of the heavy demand for pool and activity space in the area. A pool in the proposed rec centre would serve as a replacement for the former Scona Pool, which the city closed four years ago and subsequently demolished instead of spending millions to refurbish it. Michael Janz, who represents the ward in which the rec centre would be built, said Monday the old pool was “a treasured community asset.” “I would like to get it built as soon as possible, so hearing that it’s not a priority right now is frustrating,” Janz, who sits on the committee, told reporters at city hall. The city has drawn up designs for the rec centre, which would also include a gym, a workout area and multi-use space. Mayor Andrew Knack, who represented the west-end Ward Nakota Isga as councillor before he was elected mayor last year, said he understands “how critical infrastructure like this is” having championed the now-under-construction mistahaya wîkihk Community Recreation Centre. Given today’s budget constraints, however, plans to build the Rollie Miles Rec Centre will have to wait, Knack said. “Looking in this next four-year budget, if we look at the budget (for the proposed rec centre) that’s been suggested of around $130 million, that would eat up 10 per cent of our entire capital budget over the next four years,” he told reporters, adding getting the rec centre built is a question of “when” not “if.” “Realistically, that’s not going to be possible.” With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Jeremy Thompson
