Rollie Miles Athletic Field District Park Renewal

Report back to Report back to Community and Public Services Committee on the following:

• Updated Park Master Plan
• Functional Program for Community Recreation Facility
• Project cost estimate

Exploring Options and Setting Direction through:

• Public and stakeholder consultation to review options and provide feedback
• The Functional Program will support further understanding of the impact a new facility has on the park site and inform an updated park master plan

Consultant to develop draft functional program based on information gathered.

Collecting input from public, advisory committee and City staff which will be analysed and used to develop a draft functional program. The functional program will include the prioritized activities and services that could be included in a new Community Recreation Centre in Rollie Miles Athletic Field District Park.

Reengage stakeholder committees to prepare for public engagement around development of  a detailed program (functional program) for a Community Recreation Centre.

The draft Master Plan was shared at the Community and Public Services Committee September 12, 2016. As a result, City Council passed the following motion on September 21, 2016:

1. That Administration develop a detailed program, that includes a capital cost and a business case, for a small recreation centre including a swimming pool in Rollie Miles Athletic Field District Park
2. That Administration continue to consult with members of the community based on the proposed Rollie Miles Field District Master Plan

Reestablishing the Community Advisory Committee that supported the Public Involvement Plan and engagement activities in the first phases of the master plan project.

Complete Preferred concept design, technical site review, develop business case.

Access and Circulation

District Park Site South

Athletic Field

Draft Preferred Concept Overall

Existing Conditions

Public and Stakeholder Consultation - refine concept options

Open House Display Boards

Concept Options

Open House Board #1

Open House Board #2

Open House Board #3

Open House Winter Board

Open House Overall Board

Open House Concept Plan Development Handout

Open House Exit Survey

Concept option development

Public and Stakeholder Consultation - Open house and online survey

Survey Highlights 2015

Survey Report 2015

Data analysis, concept plan development, assessment of internal opportunities and constraints.

Public and Stakeholder Consultation - Telephone survey, public open house and online survey

Telephone Survey Results 2013

Public Consultation Feedback Report 2013

This small 13 ha district park is located in the rapidly densifying mature neighbourhood of Queen Alexandra, located in south central Edmonton. The Park runs parallel to Calgary Trail (104 street) between University Avenue and 70 Avenue.

Yes, this site encompases a wide variety of amenities including a premier track and field facility, baseball diamonds, soccer/football field, tennis courts, George S. Hughes indoor skating arena, “Scona” swimming pool, Queen Alexandra Community League building and outdoor skating rink, the Edmonton Federation Community Leagues building and Strathcona High School.

• Park Renewal includes upgrading or renewing infrastructure and park elements. Park renewal priorities are identified through developing a park master plan.
• A park master plan will look at the entire park to provide a strategic vision and action plan to address community needs and aging infrastructure.
• In 2015, the City of Edmonton began work with community groups and stakeholders to develop a park master plan for the Rollie Miles Athletic Field District Park to support community recreation opportunities and renew park amenities.
• A draft park master plan for Rollie Miles was presented to the City of Edmonton’s Community and Public Services Committee in September 2016.
• Edmonton’s City Council requested the development of a functional program report for a small recreational facility with an aquatic element to further understand the impact of a new facility on the district park.

• A Functional Program is a report that outlines and describes prioritized activities for a facility. It includes the spacial requirements for each activity and the relationship between the spaces.
• The Rollie Miles project will develop a detailed functional program for a community recreation centre at Rollie Miles Athletic Field District Park. This information will inform the update to the Rollie Miles Park Master Plan

• The City will report back to Council in Winter 2018, with an updated park master plan that will include a recommended location for a small community recreation centre with an aquatic element, a facility functional program and an estimated project cost.
• Once the park master plan is approved, design and construction for the renewal of the park amenities can begin.

In 2013, the City of Edmonton began the conversation with the community to understand more about the recreational activities that are important in this District Park.

During 2015 and 2016, there were a number of opportunities for the public to provide feedback and become involved in the development of a draft park master plan.

In 2017, the City worked closely with the community, and together formed an engagement working group.

The key responsibilities of this group are to inform the public involvement plan and identify opportunities for three engagement phases: Gathering Information, Exploring Options and Setting the Direction.

As part of the Gathering Information phase, engagement activities include stakeholder meetings (May, 2017), community outreach (May, 2017) and a public survey (June, 2017).

Engagement activities in the Exploring Options phase will include a public workshop and a stakeholder workshop (November 2017).

To support our Setting the Direction Phase of public engagement we will be working closely with the engagement working group.

Scona Pool

• Scona Pool is the City of Edmonton’s oldest public swimming pool. The facility has reached the end of its life cycle and the condition of the facility continues to deteriorate.
• As facilities near the end of their lifespan, we need to make decisions about their future, which, in the case of Scona Pool, means closure.
• While the City continues to work through the park planning process for Rollie Miles Athletic Field District Park, the pool will continue to be operated through a partnership with a private contractor.
• The City will continue to perform routine maintenance to ensure the pool is safe for citizens.
• As part of a Council motion in September 2016, an aquatic element will be considered within the development of a functional program to explore a new community recreation centre at Rollie Miles.
• The Scona Pool facility is not expected to be repurposed when it is closed. Included in the current project will be development of a cost estimate to demolish the current facility.
• If Scona Pool reaches a point in service where it is inoperable prior to a new facility being approved or built, the City would work to accommodate demand from rentals or user groups for the time already committed. When a new aquatic season starts they would be incorporated into our existing booking allocation process to be accommodated at other facilities.  

George S Hughes/South Side Arena

• George S Hughes arena is a facility booked city-wide for a variety of ice sports in the winter and concrete surface sports in the summer. The facility is booked for approximately 30 hours a year for public skating (2016-2017).
• The City of Edmonton’s 10-year Arena Capital Development Strategy (2009-2019) identifies the closure/repurposing of six aging arenas. One of the arenas identified is George S. Hughes/South Side Arena.
• Repurposing or removal of George S. Hughes Arena would occur after  construction of a replacement facility.
• In 2015, the Dermott (Bonnie Doon) District Park Master Plan was developed identifying a twin pad arena location. Detail design and construction of this arena was not funded as part of the 2015-2018 capital budget, but this location is still relevant as per the 10-year Arena Capital Development Strategy.
• For the Rollie Miles project, the discussion of ice activities will be included in the Gathering Information Phase within the functional program development.
• The functional program project will include discussions on whether the existing arena could meet community needs through repurposing, demolition or a rebuild.
• All City arenas receive regular ongoing maintenance and repairs to ensure safety, and to maintain physical condition and functionality.

EFCL Building

The City is working with the Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues (EFCL) to determine what their operational requirements are for their work in supporting the 157 Edmonton community leagues they serve. The EFCL continues to be a key stakeholder in the project and the current facility the EFCL leases from the City will be reviewed for impacts.

Rollie Miles Track

In Sept 2014, the newly restored Rollie Miles Track was reopened. This project included renewal of the track, drainage and field elements to provide a public outdoor track and field facility that can support a range of athletic opportunities to serve all citizens and stakeholders now and in the future.

Pathway Lighting

As part of the Building Great Neighbourhoods and District Park Master Planning consultation,  residents in Queen Alexandra indicated that lighting on the path adjacent to Rollie Miles Athletic field was important. In fall 2016, new lighting was installed in the Park along the west path as part of the upgrade to the entire neighbourhood streetlight system with Neighbourhood Renewal. Additional park lighting may be considered as part of this park renewal project.

When will the new facility be built?

Project  approval and funding are not in place to begin design or construction of a new facility in Rollie Miles District Park. The current project provides an opportunity for the community and City to explore the size of a desired facility and possible location on this smaller district park site to update the Park Master Plan. We are in the planning phase.

Will there be access to the new facility from Calgary Trail?

This option will be explored during development of the functional program. Once a facility functional program is developed, the project will work on a site analysis which will include access and parking.

Will a new facility increase the amount of traffic and parking in the neighbourhood?

A new facility would  be open to the general public. Traffic and parking will be considered during site analysis for his If a new facility is developed parking will be required. Edmonton Transit buses currently stop at this location.

Will there be trees cut down to build the new facility?

The proposed location of a new facility on Rollie MIles District Park site has not been determined. Once a functional program is developed, the project will work on a site analysis. Maintaining the trees has been identified as an important priority in this project and consideration of all factors will be discussed as the project progresses.

Will the new facility be accessible ?

The City of Edmonton is committed to improved accessibility of all City facilities for everyone. Features and amenities will meet the Alberta Building Code and take into consideration Universal Design Principles.

Who will  decide what is in the new building?

The  City will work closely with the surrounding community and public  to ensure there is effective engagement for people interested in the project. There are many factors to consider in the decision-making process and  the City will strive for the best understanding of the public’s views and perspectives. The City values public input when making decisions and is committed to communicating back how the input was used.