Martensville looking to raise final amount for community rec centre

What seemed like just a vision more than a decade ago will soon become a reality.

The Martensville Community Recreation Project (MCRP) and the City of Martensville are teaming up to raise the final funds for the new community recreation centre.

On Wednesday, they launched the Lace ‘Em Up campaign to raise the final $4 million to begin construction on the project.

Rendering of Martensville Community Recreation Centre. (Wright Construction/aodbt Architects)

The MCRP will include two ice surfaces, an indoor artificial turf field, an indoor rock-climbing wall, indoor playgrounds and multi-use spaces.

MCRP chair and founder Jesse Reis says a group of hockey parents identified the need and brought the idea to the community, which has backed it ever since.

“Through word of mouth and through social media, our group began to see the community rally behind the events and show their support for the fundraising efforts of the Martensville Community Rec Project and what we were leading,” Reis said.

The City of Martensville has grown over the past decade, but according to Mayor Kent Muench, some of the services weren’t following.

“The city has grown exponentially and the ice situation hasn’t changed, let alone all the other sport and recreation opportunities in our community,” Muench said.

Over the years, the city and project committee planned fundraising events to build momentum in getting enough funds to build the facility. Muench said through the events, the community has gained sustainable programs.

“Look at the events — the 3-on-3 tournament, the pond hockey tournament. Those things for sure were all dreamt up because of this facility, but they exist now on their own. They improve the quality of life of our community and it’s a testament to the people who are involved,” Muench added.

But the new rec centre will not just be hockey-specific once it gets built, it will help accommodate other community needs.

“The demand wasn’t solely just for ice. The need expanded across many recreational programs for our community and we voiced more space for more sports — soccer, lacrosse, football, baseball, softball and many, many more,” Reis said.

Rendering of Martensville Community Recreation Centre. (Wright Construction/aodbt Architects)

They also have the space to build the rec centre because, in 2020, Canwest and North Prairie Developments donated the land for the building. The land was valued at around $3 million.

That land is part of Trilogy Ranch, which is a 680-acre residential and commercial development just west of Highway 12.

Last month, under the Investing In Canada Infrastructure Program, the Government of Canada invested more than $17.8 million and the Government of Saskatchewan invested up to $14.8 million towards the project’s $44.5-million goal.

Reis said he has a lot of faith the community won’t have any issues raising the final $4 million.

“What makes these cities great, these smaller centres, is the idea that people come together. And I have no doubt that our community will come together to raise that and it’ll mean everything to me,” Reis said.

Construction is set to begin in early 2023 with completion targeted for the fall of 2024.