More than a year after a “groundbreaking” event, there’s still no construction activity on the future site of Newton’s community centre.
Back on Sept. 14, 2022, Safe Surrey Coalition candidates staged a pre-election photo-op involving shovels in the dirt off King George Boulevard, south of 70A Avenue.
“The City of Surrey has begun construction of the Newton Community Centre,” proclaimed a news release from city hall.
Clearly that’s not the case on the vacant lot, as of Wednesday (Sept. 20) — but work on the $100-million project could begin soon, according to city staff.
On the city’s website (surrey.ca), a post about capital projects says the new community centre is “coming to Newton in 2024” on a lot where a Rona store once stood.
What's happening at this #SurreyBC site?
— Tom Zillich (@TomZillich) September 20, 2023
Not much.
More than a year after a pre-election photo-op “groundbreaking,” still no construction activity on the future site of Newton Community Centre.
But that could soon change.
STORY: https://t.co/1MhklXPxSs pic.twitter.com/1shS4AUqNb
Initial plans for the community centre were first revealed in 2020 by then-mayor Doug McCallum and council. By 2022, drawings of the project’s first phase showed a 10-lane, 50-metre lap pool, leisure pool, lazy river and other water attractions on the site, which is about a half-kilometre from the neighbourhood’s existing wave pool and rec centre.
The project was re-upped in the 2023 Capital Budget.
“City staff are working on finalizing the construction schedule and will be providing an update in the coming weeks,” says a memo sent to the Now-Leader from Surrey’s planning and development department, via media relations lead Amy Jugpal.
To date, crews have only changed the alignment of 70A Avenue, now curved near the intersection of King George Boulevard, where the community centre entrance will be located.
Plans for the 75,000-square-foot community centre involve “multiple components” including a library, recreation and culture programming similar to Clayton Community Centre, according to a corporate report to council in 2020. “Parks amenities” are also planned on the site.
Back in January, Newton Business Improvement Association (BIA) suggested that the project’s estimated $100 million might be better spent on redeveloping existing recreation facilities and lands located just a block northeast of there, off 72nd Avenue.
• RELATED: Time to ‘rethink’ plan to build Newton Community Centre, BIA tells Surrey City Hall.
• ALSO READ: Site of future Newton Community Centre picked without consultation, BIA says.
• OUR VIEW: City’s two-pool plan in Newton leaves City Centre high and dry
Philip Aguirre, the BIA’s executive director, said it was time to “rethink the project” months after city hall had a new council led by Mayor Brenda Locke.
“I’m hopeful we can find new efficiencies or better results by re-imagining the project,” said Aguirre, who ran for council last fall with mayoral candidate Jinny Sims’ Surrey Forward party.
“Newton already has a functioning community centre, which is well-used but it’s definitely older and needs renovations, for sure, like the arena, but maybe Strawberry Hill could use a facility of that size, instead of putting it across the street from an existing community centre.”