Engagement process to shape the future of recreational destinations – Nelson News

The future of three Nelson recreational facilities depends on public opinion as the city faces a rising bill for repairs to dilapidated buildings.

The Civic Center, Civic Arena and soccer complex were built in 1935 and the curling rink in 1973, but these facilities will require multimillion-dollar investments in the coming years.

The upcoming engagement process between Nelson and the Area Recreation Commission will give Nelson residents the opportunity to have their say on the future of these indoor recreational buildings in the city, and details of the engagement process will be released in the coming days, said Dawna Ditson, public affairs coordinator. around the city, in a press release.

This process will provide an update on city-owned recreation facilities ahead of a joint engagement process led by Nelson and the county 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 studies of the Civic Center, Civic Arena and Curling Rink, and the results are unsatisfactory, Ditson said.

“Each of these assessments identified a critical need for significant investment,” she said. “While the city has not yet completed a detailed assessment of the futsal site, it may also require a similar level of investment.”

New information about the sites means the city needs to act now, but as planned, Mayor Janice Morrison said.

“Before making any decisions about further investments in these aging properties, we would like to hear residents’ hopes for recreational opportunities in our community,” she said in a press release.

Seven years ago, the city determined the condition of each building, developed recommended necessary actions for each structure and, in the meantime, undertook major renovations to each structure – averaging $200,000 per year, plus another $1.4 million in capital improvements. Ditson said.

In 2023 and 2024, the city hired consultants to conduct a detailed structural survey of the properties, which revealed serious structural deficiencies. The first project to emerge from this process is now underway at the Community Center, with $5.3 million spent on structural repairs and seismic and energy system upgrades.

In addition, the Nelson Civic Theater Society (NCTS) is investing $4.2 million in the transition to a three-screen cinema.

Administrative center

Emergency roof repairs and energy and seismic upgrades to the Civic Center are nearing completion, including necessary seismic work at the Civic Arena.

The work is being carried out simultaneously as the properties were built together in 1935 and share a common wall. The work will bring the Civic Center into compliance with current building code requirements for snow load and seismicity, and will also improve its energy efficiency.

Civic Arena

The Civic Arena will require additional roof repairs at a later date.

A structural assessment of the Civic Arena, completed in the summer of 2024, identified the need to increase the strength of the existing roof structure to support snow loads.

An initial structural design was completed to correct structural deficiencies. In the meantime, a snow monitoring program will remain in place for the winter, which may result in additional road closures.

Curling area

In the summer of 2024, the city conducted an initial structural assessment and geotechnical review of the curling center, which identified problems with the foundation, walls and roof structure.

As with the Civic Center and Civic Arena, the roof structure will need to be strengthened to support snow loads. Due to these shortcomings, this institution is currently closed.

Indoor soccer complex

The structural analysis will be completed in 2025.