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A new multi-purpose sports complex in southeast Galt might get the green light from council Tuesday evening.
Cambridge councillors will once again discuss where pools and ice rinks should be located after years of debate about the site for the facility.
City staff are suggesting a new complex featuring a 25 metre swimming pool, gymnasiums, a fitness track, and multipurpose rooms be built on city-owned property in southeast Galt.
The staff report also proposes signing an agreement with Buckingham Sports Properties to add two ice pads and upgrade two existing ones at Cambridge Sports Park, located at 1001 Franklin Blvd.
Additionally, it recommends adding one ice pad to Preston Memorial Auditorium so it becomes a twin-pad arena.
Troubled timeline
Back in 2016, the city was set to build a sports multiplex on land owned by Conestoga College.
The multiplex plan included four ice pads, two pools, a gym, other recreational spaces plus outdoor areas for soccer and other sports.
But in March 2016, Coun. Nicholas Ermeta argued that placing the multiplex there would put it too close to Kitchener for most Cambridge residents. He suggested Riverside Park instead.
In May 2016, council agreed to rethink the location. A task force came back in December 2016 with five possible sites.
By March 2017, splitting up some of the recreational facilities was brought up as an idea.
Then in December 2017, council approved placing three ice rinks, gymnasiums, plus walking and running tracks at Cambridge Centre. However, that plan stalled in February this year when it turned out building there was too costly.
This was the original plan for one facility that would contain four ice pads, two pools and a gymnasium. This facility was slated to go on lands owned by Conestoga College. (City of Cambridge)
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