Future fit for facilities in city centre

City council has pledged to get Richmond’s sparse roster of downtown recreation facilities into shape.

Civic politicians are supporting a staff exercise to devise a plan for getting a list of needed improvements and additions to the city centre built.

“We’re a growing population and if we don’t address where the needs are for that population then we’re not really addressing the needs (of the community),” said Coun. Derek Dang.

The city centre is the fastest growing community in Richmond that now boasts an estimated population of 40,300.

Parks staff are expected to report to council in June with a plan that should offer details for the future of two new community centres, a library for the north, an expansion of Minoru Seniors Centre and a redesign of Minoru Park.

Coun. Harold Steves said he favours a new community centre in the Minoru precinct, but not necessarily within the park.

Council has already given the thumbs up to a future community safety building for the park’s southwest corner at Gilbert Road and Granville Avenue. If built there, the RCMP headquarters property would be left vacant, opening up an opportunity for a community centre, said Steves.

“We have a number of different sites where new buildings can be located, and I think it’s going to be rather exciting.”

The plan will be co-ordinated with a revamp of the city centre area plan, expected to begin this year.

Coun. Evelina Halsey-Brandt, a city centre resident, said having the two reviews parallel each other will avoid a future game of population-to-civic facility catch-up.

“What we are planning is a lot of people living in a lot of towers, and they need to be able to walk to these facilities,” she said.

“Growth is happening rapidly. It will happen even more so as we develop the oval lands and as we try to implement transit oriented development along the (Canada) Line.”