The Martensville Community Recreation Project (MCRP) hosted their annual hockey draft fundraising event on Sunday, April 7th. During the event, representatives from the MCRP, the City of Martensville and MLA Nancy Heppner took a moment to reveal a conceptual plan for the proposed multi-purpose facility for Martensville.
With the current Sports Centre under a high demand for usage as the community grows in population, it has become clear to many within the community that a new facility was a much-needed addition to the community, so for the past five years, a group of local volunteers have worked tirelessly to organize and host numerous fundraisers throughout the year, with all proceeds going towards funding for a multi-purpose sports facility within the community. The goal of these devoted individuals is the same – to provide a year round multi-purpose facility for the residents of Martensville and its surrounding area to enjoy, which would provide space for a wide variety of sports organizations.
Jesse Reis of the MCRP spoke to those in attendance regarding their excitement over the project, noting that last year the MCRP raised $150,000 towards the project, with another cheque for $75,000 getting presented this year. “This is going to help surrounding communities, all our kids and families.
Through months of community consultations, the conceptual plan was designed by AODBT and although there is not a location set at this time, the new facility will not be connected to the current rink or to the Martensville Athletic Pavilion. The first phase of the project will cost approximately $12 to $13 million and the facility is designed to be constructed in multiple phases over a number of years, as funding is provided.
Nancy Heppner, Martensville-Warman MLA, took a moment to congratulate the MCRP on their hard work on this project, and Martensville City Councillor Mike Cox took to the stage to read a letter of congratulations from Eagle Creek-Carlton Trail MP Kelly Block.
Martensville Deputy Mayor Tyson Chillog was also in attendance to speak to the crowd about the City’s involvement in the project, explaining that in the fall, there was a total of $6.5 million set aside for the facility. “The City is done talking, and I think it is now time that we walk the walk. The City’s work is not done and we will continue to look for funding for the future phases,” Chillog said. After thanking the MCRP for their five years of dedication towards this project, Chillog also noted that, “we would like to thank the province. They gave us funding for schools to provide our children with an education, they gave us overpasses to keep our children safe and now we are going to ask the province to provide us with funding for facilities so we can keep the children in the community of Martensville.”
Phase I of the project will include an arena with seating, change rooms, skate services, an indoor playground, climbing wall and kitchen. Future phases will include second and third ice surfaces with spectator seating and dressing rooms, indoor soccer fields, concession area, meeting rooms, retail space and more.
