Plans to build an 80,000 sq. ft. recreation centre near the base of Coquitlam’s Burke Mountain will go out for public comment this month.
The city is calling for input via an online survey and through virtual information sessions on the Northeast Community Centre, a $115.1 million hub that’s due to be up in 2026.
Suggestions to city staff will shape the building proposal before it’s OK’d by council next year.
And property taxes are set to rise to operate the new centre, of which the construction costs will be funded through development cost contributions (DCC) and grants.
The online survey is open from Dec. 7 to Jan. 14, while the Zoom meetings are on
- Tuesday, Dec. 7 from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
- Wednesday, Dec. 8 from 1:30 to 3 p.m.
To have your say or to register for a Zoom session, go to https://letstalkcoquitlam.ca/necc.
Alternatively, you can drop into the new Burke Mountain Discovery Centre (3537 Princeton Ave., Coquitlam) to learn more about the capital project on
- Thursday, Dec. 9 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
- Saturday, Dec. 11 from 1 to 3 p.m.
Sited at the eastern end of Burke Mountain Village — the commercial core for Burke Mountain’s future 50,000 residents — the rec centre is expected to include
- 27,000 sq. ft. of aquatics (separate leisure and four-lane lap pools; a whirlpool, sauna and steam room; and a multi-purpose room)
- 42,000 sq. ft. for the community centre (two gyms; four multi-purpose rooms; a community kitchen, fitness rooms, a sensory room, and washroom and change facilities; a maker space; and a walking/running loop)
- 340 parking stalls (half of which will be covered)
As well, the city is earmarking 10,000 sq. ft. for a third branch of the Coquitlam Public Library — to be confirmed in the Library Services and Spaces Study and adding another one per cent to the property tax bill to operate, if greenlighted — plus 1,000 sq. ft. for a covered outdoor space.
A community police station and licensed childcare area aren’t part of the plan; however, there will be room to add an ice rink in future years, city staff say.
In addition, the city plans to spend $12 million on an adjacent 3.6-acre park and plaza to be built in tandem with the rec centre, as they will share programming and access.
The cost to run the rec centre is estimated at $8 million a year and includes a $4.2-million contribution toward asset replacement.
If approved, construction is due to start in 2023.
It’s not the only rec centre on the books: Coquitlam is now building the Burquitlam YMCA and renewing the Place Maillardville Community Centre.
