Ground has officially been broken on a new recreation centre in Peace River. Marshall Lee Construction is building the Peace Regional Recreation Centre, with a budget of $22 million.
The future Baytex Energy Centre will include a full-sized field house and a NHL sized hockey rink, as well as a running and walking track. A large kitchen area is also being built so the arena can have a concession and host events for the community.
The town found out in 2014 that the current Baytex Energy Centre had substantial foundation and serious structural issues, and it wouldn’t be worth the cost to repair it. Engineers estimated that the arena had another five years left in its lifetime.
A committee made up of members of the County of Northern Lights, MD of Peace, Northern Sunrise County and the Town of Peace River was created, and their report showed the communities’ greatest needs were an ice sheet, running track and field house. $16.1 million has been committed by the municipalities, with the remainder to be fundraised.
Construction is expected to take 18 months, which puts the opening date in late 2018. The building will be close to the current arena.
