The exact timeline will depend on the tendering and permitting process. Cameron Library is set to move to its new temporary location, opening on April 29, 2024, in The City of Lougheed Shopping Centre. The current library location closes on March 29, 2024.

Recreation services and programs will continue to be offered at the current location at 9523 Cameron Street through to the completion of the design development stage, anticipated to be mid-2024.

No, the facility will need to close during construction. The new facility will be more than triple the size (approximately) of the old facility; as such, site size limitations and the desire to minimize the impact on key natural features and assets in the adjacent park space will require the existing facility to be demolished in order for construction on the new facility to proceed. A temporary facility will be established in The City of Lougheed Shopping Centre at 9855 Austin Avenue while construction for the new facility is underway. The temporary location will accommodate some of the programs; not all of the programs, including sports programs, will be transitioned.

The playground and splash pad will be assessed once a contractor for the project is on board and the work site limits known.

Recreation will do an analysis of how programming can be adjusted or shifted as the new facility is constructed. This could potentially include finding temporary venues and/or encouraging patrons to use other City facilities.

A temporary facility will be established in The City of Lougheed Shopping Centre while construction for the new facility is underway. Library services will be available at this temporary location.

There will need to be some trees removed due to the size of the new facility, however a commitment has been made to replace every tree that is removed at a ratio of 1 to 3 and up to a ratio of 1 to 10. The consulting team and City (including the City’s Arborist) are investigating all possible options to reduce the impact on existing trees.

The project team provided careful attention to investigating analyzing different site options and approaches. Locating the facility on the east side of Cameron Park would take away valued park space and locating the facility on the west side of the park would impact the existing tree canopy. Traffic patterns were also studied with a focus on exploring how different site locations would impact flow and access to the site. Ultimately the current footprint was deemed the best options based on safety, park asset sustainability and access.

The changerooms are planned as universal changerooms with self-contained changerooms and showers that allow for privacy. There will be a range of options to service everyone.

At this stage of the design process specific materials and FFE (fixtures, furnishings and equipment) have yet to be determined, however the intent is for the gymnasium to be multi-purpose and the flooring type will reflect this.

The seniors’ space is on the second of the 3 storey tall facility. Because the park slopes down to the west, the building has two entrance floors, the lower level entrance on the west (level 1), and the upper level entrance on the east (level 2). The second floor is easily accessed off the east side of the facility, which is also at ground level at that side of the building (top of the slope/hill). We placed the senior’s space closest to the main entrance, near the café, library, civic plaza, and public transportation nearby.

Based on the current design concept it will be an oval that is approximately 160 metres. However, like many other elements of the facility this is subject to adjustment as the project moves through future design phases.

The City has a process in place across all facilities for allocating spaces for programming. The process focuses on programming for the public and strives to achieve a balance between recreation services, sports groups, and community programs.

The intent of the gymnasium to accommodate a mix of programmed and spontaneous (drop-in/casual) use.

There will be a guard rail that is slightly over 1 metre tall (3.5ft) and there will be a thin and durable perimeter net to keep balls from landing on the track.

Using numerous strategies and approaches, including:

• Provision of approximately 300 underground parking stalls as part of the new facility, including pick-up drop-off zones, and parking stalls allocated for temporary parking.
• Promotion of transit and active transportation to the site, this includes enhancing the pedestrian connectivity within the site, upgrading the existing street frontage to provide a Multi-use path (MUP), and provision of secure bicycle racks.
• As residential and commercial development occurs in the area, other developers will be expected to undertake traffic impact assessment that reflects the traffic condition of the time development and implement the appropriate traffic demand management strategies that incrementally will contribute towards the wider traffic management in the area overtime.

There will be level 2 charging stations that have two charges per head, like other Burnaby facilities. These will be paid stations. Exactly how many stations is still being decided.

The café is intended for smaller social gatherings of a couple people or individual use, however there are other multipurpose rooms in the facility that will be able to accommodate meetings and similar purposes. Catering functionality and services will be an operational decision that is made at a later date.

The indoor track was identified through the needs assessment and other engagement as a desired amenity (provides safe and comfortable walking space for all ages and abilities, especially during the winter months). This amenity type is also a trend in many newer community centre facilities.

Additionally, the addition of a track is a relatively low cost, high value amenity addition.

The Needs Assessment looked at a broader market catchment area for key amenity types, including the Burquitlam area. Given the costs associated with building and operating aquatics facilities, the importance of “right sizing” the pool component is directly related to new aquatics development in the area (including the Coquitlam Family YMCA and the replacement of the CG Brown Pool replacement).

The amenities associated with private condo towers (e.g. fitness centres, saunas, games rooms, bookable social gathering rooms, etc.) are hard to ascertain and accurately inventory. It is important to note that these amenities do not provide inclusive public access which is a key rationale for public recreation and community facility development. The engagement also identified the desire among individuals for community experiences, especially when living in a smaller dwelling. High-rise development are expected to provide on-site amenity spaces, or the developer will contribute towards the City’s Community Benefit Bonus Fund to fund recreational projects such as this facility.

Unfortunately, there is not enough room to accommodate all requested spaces and some tough decisions had to be made based on maximizing public benefit.

While recognizing the racquet sports are valued and important, the Northeast Quadrant Recreational Needs Assessment identified that space demands, trends, needs and facility options for racquet sports should be explored on a city-wide (and potentially regional) scale, whereas the new facility is sized to serve the current and future residents of the Northeast Quadrant of Burnaby.

The need to increase the supply of ice arenas in the area was not identified as a priority. At present time, Burnaby has a sufficient number of ice arenas when considering both public and privately operated facilities. The new 8,500m² Rosemary Brown Arena, expected to be completed in 2023, will provide two NHL-sized rinks, as well as spaces for other community and city run programs.