City of Surrey commits $357 million for 29 new public parks and 11 recreational facilities

May 31 2018, 7:52 am

It is no secret that Surrey’s public parks and community and recreational facilities have been unable to keep up with the demand from the municipality’s rapidly growing population, but the municipal government is now fully prepared to play catch up.

Earlier this week, Surrey City Council approved a plan to spend $357 million over the next 10 years, by 2027, to create new and expanded public parks and build new community centres and recreational facilities.

This three-pillar PRC Strategic Plan – short for Parks, Recreation, and Culture – outlines the timeline for 29 new parks, including 25 new neighbourhood-level parks, and the major renovation or expansion of 17 existing parks. This includes the larger park projects of building new athletics parks at Grandview Heights and Fleetwood, a new riverfront park along the Nicomekl River, and new urban parks in Newton, Guildford, and Fleetwood Town Centre.

The largest and most expensive standalone projects will, of course, be the new and improved community and recreational facilities, such as:

  • new community centres in the Clayton and Grandview Heights neighbourhoods
  • new ice complex in Grandview Heights and the replacement of Newton Ice Arena
  • expansion of Fleetwood Community Centre and Chuck Bailey Community Centre
  • financial contribution towards a new YMCA in Surrey City Centre – with a new pool, fitness centre, and community amenities – to replace the aging North Surrey Community Centre
  • renovations of all six outdoor pools
  • indoor soccer warm-up facility at Newton Athletic Park
  • new rugby field house and covered soccer field at South Surrey Athletic Park

These supplement major existing projects:

  • new $52-million North Surrey Sport & Ice Complex to replace the aging North Surrey arenas, providing three ice rinks and community spaces (opening in summer 2019)
  • new $35-million Cloverdale Sport & Ice Complex within the Cloverdale Fairgrounds, consisting of two ice rinks (opening in 2020)

New capital infrastructure will also be paired with dozens of new policies and initiatives supported by funding, such as increasing the opportunities for residents to experience Surrey’s many rivers, creeks, lakes, and significant oceanfront and creating programs to encourage youth to become more active.

Additionally, the PRC Strategic Plan has an emphasis on fostering the municipality’s arts and culture scene. Among the many objectives in this third pillar include:

  • Build a new Interactive Art Museum in Surrey City Centre, replacing Surrey Arts Centre
  • Renovate Surrey Arts Centre into a dedicated centre for the performing arts
  • Build a new performing arts centre with 300 to 400 seats in South Surrey
  • Create a new contemporary art gallery in South Surrey
  • Plan for a longer-term development of a new major performing arts centre in Surrey City Centre
  • Consider a new museum or interpretive centre in North Surrey
  • Create an iconic, world-class public art installation within Civic Plaza at Surrey City Centre
  • Create and fund more large scale special events, and establish a special events strategy

The Museum of Surrey, formerly known as the Surrey Museum, is currently undergoing a $16-million renovation and expansion that will reach completion this fall.

The municipal government anticipates its entire $357-million capital plan for the PRC will be funded by neighbourhood concept plans and community amenity contributions ($51 million) and general capital from the City’s annual Capital Financial Plan ($306 million).

But this budget does not cover any of the unknown acquisition costs of the lands required for the new and expanded park space. Instead, the City will attempt to rely on non-taxpayer tools such as development cost charges, a 5% subdivision dedication, density bonus and plan amendments, and donations for its parkland acquisition strategy.

As well, $26 million will go towards the increased maintenance and operations costs of all of the new and improved public spaces and facilities to increase public satisfaction, increase the life-cycle of City investments, and improve public safety. A planned 0.75% property tax increase in 2020 will provide an additional source of operating revenue.

These projects and initiatives are necessary as Surrey’s population is projected to increase by up to 250,000 people over the next 30 years – from about 520,000 in 2017 to close to 800,000 people in 2041.

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