New core school in Saskatoon could house city recreation centre
The plan to consolidate three Saskatoon elementary schools in the next five years has created a “phenomenal opportunity” for the city to potentially be involved in developing a new recreation facility at the site.
Since 2013, the City of Saskatoon has been looking for a way to replace or spruce up the aging White Buffalo Youth Lodge, which the city converted from an old grocery store about 20 years ago. Though the building is managed by the Saskatoon Tribal Council, the city owns the structure and pays for costs associated with maintenance and repairs.
This spring, the provincial government announced it would pour money into consolidating three aging core neighbourhood public schools (Pleasant Hill, King George and Princess Alexandra) into a newly built school on the current site of the Princess Alexandra Community School, just a stone’s throw from the White Buffalo Youth Lodge on 20th Street West.
The Saskatoon Public School Division asked whether the city would be interested in having a new city centre recreation facility as part of the planned school project.
“It’s a great opportunity,” said Lynne Lacroix, the city’s general manager of community services. “This has been a conversation for a number of years and we’re just excited about perhaps it getting a boost to really move forward in a good way.”
The construction of a new facility on the site of Princess Alexandra Community School is expected to take five years, starting this year. The first year of the project will involve consulting, securing partners, designing the site and drawing up cost estimates.
Design and development is expected to take two years and construction is expected to take another two.
If a city recreation centre opens in the new building, it would replace White Buffalo Youth Lodge.
Lacroix said wherever a new city centre recreation facility opens she hopes it will continue the work being done at White Buffalo Youth Lodge by offering a wide array of programs — including cultural programs — to people of all ages.
“Success for us is ensuring we’re meeting the changing social, recreational and cultural needs of the people who live in that area,” Lacroix said.
A report outlining the opportunity to partner with Saskatoon Public Schools on this project will be shared with city council’s governance and priorities committee next week.