Media release
October 24, 2024 (Updated with links on November 13, 2024)
The City is providing an update on City-owned recreation facilities in advance of a joint engagement process led by the Nelson & District Recreation Commission that will begin in November and will focus on the future of recreation in Nelson.
The City has conducted initial structural and geotechnical investigations of the Civic Centre, Civic Arena and Curling Rink. Each of these assessments revealed an urgent need for significant investment. While the City hasn’t yet completed a detailed assessment of the Indoor Soccer Facility, it may also need similar levels of investment.
“The upcoming engagement opportunity comes as several of our existing recreation facilities are undergoing urgent repairs, with others in need of millions of dollars of investment,” said Janice Morrison, Mayor of the City of Nelson. “Before making any decisions on further investments in these aging facilities, we would like to hear residents’ hopes for recreation opportunities in our community.”
In 2017 the City completed a Facility Condition Index (FCI) that identified the state of each building, and recommended needed action. Based on the results, the City has performed capital maintenance of these recreation facilities, averaging $200,000 per year, as well as investing another $1.4 million in capital improvements. In 2023 and 2024 the City engaged consultants to complete detailed structural investigations of the facilities that identified major structural deficiencies.
The first project to address these deficiencies, and begin the renewal of these facilities, is currently being delivered on the Civic Centre with $5.3 million for the structural repairs and seismic and energy upgrades. In conjunction with this project, the Nelson Civic Theatre Society (NCTS) is planning to invest $4.2 million in transitioning to a three-screen movie theatre.
Civic Centre structural repairs – Emergency roof repairs and energy and seismic upgrades are nearing completion at the Civic Centre, including required seismic work at the Civic Arena. The work is happening concurrently as the facilities were built together circa 1935 and share a common wall. The work will bring the Civic Centre up to current snow load and seismic building code requirements and increase its energy efficiency.
Civic Arena – The Civic Arena will require additional roof repairs at a later date. A structural assessment on the Civic Arena completed in the summer of 2024 identified the need to increase the strength of the existing roof structure to meet snow loads. Initial structural design has been completed to address the structural deficiencies. In the interim, a snow-monitoring program that may result in additional closures will be in place for the winter.
Curling Rink – The City conducted an initial structural assessment and geotechnical review of the curling centre in the summer of 2024, which showed issues with the foundation, the walls and the roof structure. Like the Civic Centre and Civic Arena, the roof structure will need to be strengthened to meet snow loads. Due to these deficiencies, this facility is closed at this time.
Indoor Soccer Facility – A structural review will be completed in 2025.
The Civic Centre, Civic Arena, and Soccer Facility were built in 1935 and the Curling Rink in 1973. These aging facilities require multi-million-dollar investments over the coming years. The upcoming Nelson and Area Recreation Commission engagement process is your chance to have your say in the future of indoor recreation in the City of Nelson. Details on this engagement process will be released in the coming days.
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For media inquiries, please contact:
Dauna Ditson, Communications Coordinator, City of Nelson I dditson@nelson.ca I 250.352.8263