The Municipality of Clarington yesterday said a $10 million Ontario grant for its biggest community build yet, will reduce dependency on funding from property taxes.
The first phase of the South Bowmanville Recreation Centre project was approved in October 2023 at an estimated cost of $65 million. The second phase is estimated to cost $37 million, bringing the total project cost to $102 million (see below).
“The Municipality of Clarington is actively pursuing external funding opportunities, reducing dependency on the property tax base while supporting the delivery of meaningful municipal services. Clarington thanks Ontario’s Ministry of Sport for supporting the development of this facility that will enrich the lives of residents for years to come,” said a municipal statement.
Ontario’s Ministry of Sport yesterday announced a $10 million contribution to the South Bowmanville Recreation Centre through the Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund (CSRIF).
Earlier Story
Phase 1 of what is billed as Clarington’s biggest community build yet, opens in 2026, answering the growing need for modern, accessible spaces that inspire active living and lifelong wellness, said a municipal statement.
The South Bowmanville Recreation Centre will be a vibrant hub for neighbours united by a love of sport, fitness, and community connection, featuring spaces for soccer, swimming, skating, pickleball, basketball, volleyball, and other activities. Flexible spaces will host group workouts, children’s programming, and shared recreation. In Phase 2, a new Aquatics Centre will further expand access to water safety education and aquatic wellness for all ages.
The Facilities
Residents can look forward to a future filled with fun, fitness, and hometown pride, with exciting new features that include:
- A FIFA-sized multi-sport dome with a three-lane indoor walking track—four times larger than the former Bowmanville Indoor Soccer facility
- Two FIBA-sized, fully accessible courts with perimeter bench seating, adaptable for net sports such as basketball, pickleball, tennis, and volleyball—twice the size of the gym at Diane Hamre Recreation Complex
- Durham Region’s first outdoor refrigerated skating trail, designed for year-round use like summer markets—featuring a modified figure-eight layout that stretches 170 metres and spans over 850 square metres, surpassing Toronto’s Barbara Ann Scott Trail and covering more ground than the Bentway Skating Trail
- In Phase 2, a new Aquatics Centre will introduce Clarington’s first warm-water therapeutic pool alongside a six-lane, 25-metre lap pool
- Multi-purpose rooms to support everything from strength training and Pilates to day camps and children’s programs
- The existing lacrosse bowl will remain on-site
Construction of the South Bowmanville Recreation Centre began in May.
