Coquitlam sports groups and teams are being asked for their input to design a new indoor sports court that - if approved by city council - could be up as early as 2015.
Coun. Craig Hodge, who heads up the city's sports council, said invitations are being sent out to 30 community sports leaders for a workshop on June 18 that will look at the needs for a dry-floor facility.
Consultants hired by the city last fall have shortlisted four locations for such a court but those sites aren't being disclosed publicly at this time.
Hodge said the venue is required immediately to accommodate sports such as lacrosse, ball hockey and soccer, noting the city hasn't added any dry-floor space in 38 years despite the population doubling.
"Right now, we have a shortage of dry-floor space," he said yesterday. "We have one of the largest lacrosse organizations in western Canada and ball hockey is one of the fastest-growing sports in Canada. And the two [sports] overlap one another."
The facility would be open year-round and could house other events such as the winter farmers' market and trade shows. As well, Hodge said it would be a venue if Coquitlam wins its bid to host the 2016 BC Seniors' Games during the city's 125th anniversary.
Hodge said feedback from participants at the June 18 workshop - on topics such as size, structure and amenities - will be included in a future report to city council prior to the summer break.
Those invited to the workshop include representatives from the Sports Centre Users' Association and the Coquitlam Field Sport Association.
Hodge is also lobbying for a bigger multi-use sports court to be built at a later date.
