Whitby town council has authorized staff to proceed with obtaining bids from prequalified contractors for the construction of the new Whitby Sports Complex.
Construction of the new sports complex will begin later this year, with an anticipated opening in late-2025.
The investment amount was not mentioned. Whitby has approved a 5.98 per cent rise in tex for 2023.
The amenities planned to be part of the future facility include:
- An aquatic centre with a 25-metre, 10-lane pool, separate leisure pool and 2nd floor spectator viewing area – which will make the Whitby Sports Complex home to the largest pool in Durham Region;
- A double gymnasium, with three-lane indoor walking track;
- A twin-pad arena with 85-foot by 190-foot ice pads; and
- Flexible spaces to support community programs, meetings, and arts and cultural activities.
The proposed design for the outdoor park remains open for public comment on Connect Whitby until March 10 and includes pickleball, tennis, and basketball courts; a multi-purpose sports field; a playground; as well as a skatepark and pump track.
The town aims to create a multi-purpose gathering space for inclusive sport and community programming – a place for residents of all ages and abilities to connect, play and get active.
“I am very pleased that council has approved the final design for the Whitby Sports Complex, which allows this project to take another step forward. We know that recreation is so important to our residents. During the 2023 budget consultation, enhanced indoor and outdoor facilities was one of the top three priorities identified by the community. Public consultation played a big role in the design of this complex – and now there is the opportunity for residents to weigh in on the proposed design for the outdoor park space to support it. I encourage everyone to visit connectwhitby.ca to share their feedback,” said Whitby Mayor Elizabeth Roy.
Quick Facts
- The new complex will be located west of Baldwin Street South, south of the intersection of Highway 407.
- More than 2,700 people shared their feedback on the design for the complex. Feedback collected showed strong support for a flexible, active, and connected complex design, with a community desire for more outdoor, aquatics, and gymnasium space at the facility site. View the full results of the survey in Attachment 2 of Staff Report CMS 09-21.
- Town staff will report back to council in the coming months with the results of the tender process and approval to begin construction.
- To align with council’s strategic vision on climate change, a variety of environmental sustainability initiatives will be explored during the design process for the complex including the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold and Zero Carbon Building (ZCB) Certifications.
For more information visit connectwhitby.ca/sportscomplex.