The Dunbow Recreation Association is once again planning its annual fundraiser to help build a multi-use recreation facility in the Heritage Heights area.
The recreation association has pledged to raise $1.25 million for the facility which will include an indoor arena, baseball field and soccer pitches.
The MD of Foothills council has also committed to help with the $4 million project and construction could begin as early as this fall.
At the same time, the Foothills MD and the Town of Okotoks are trying to come to an agreement on an indoor field house to be built near Aldersyde.
This project, estimated to cost anywhere from $6 million to $14 million, is planned to include facilities for indoor soccer, lacrosse as well as outdoor fields.
Both of these facilities are desperately needed.
Gym space for indoor sports and soccer fields are at a premium and the Okotoks Minor Hockey Association has had to turn children away due to a lack of ice time not only in Okotoks, but the surrounding communities.
There is no question these are both worthwhile projects, but trying to complete them as separate entities is foolhardy.
A much better solution would be to combine the two projects.
First, it would be a better utilization of available funding and resources. Second, the provincial and federal governments have made it clear they would much rather support regional projects and such a multi-use recreational facility would certainly fit their criteria.
Granted, a facility in Aldersyde would not appease the residents in Heritage Heights who have already raised more than $120,000 for
their facility.
However, the joint project could be relocated between Heritage Heights and Aldersyde perhaps in DeWinton, somewhere along Highway 2A or perhaps off Highway 2 between Aldersyde and Heritage Pointe.
The MD, Okotoks and the local recreation associations need to follow the lead of St. Albert, Strathcona County and Cochrane. These municipalities managed to build impressive multipurpose facilities that include all of the necessary amenities.
The local municipalities need to combine their resources and put these projects together — it be the first step towards building a winner.
