Downtown still the best choice for new OHL facility

Over the past decade, local youth sport coaches, organizers and parents have described a large, multi-sport complex packed with new facilities as the Holy Grail of recreation.

The issue at hand might have been choosing a location for a new twin-pad arena, soccer fields or a swimming pool. Or the future of Morrow Park. Or, more immediately, the future of the Memorial Centre and where an even bigger arena/events facility to replace it might go.

Each of those debates included calls for a site large enough to eventually accommodate all those sports facilities.

The gold standard is Iroquois Sports Park in Whitby, which has six ice pads, two pools, a training centre, six outdoor tennis courts, five baseball diamonds and a high-end soccer pitch on 50 acres.

Peterborough cannot exactly reproduce that model. Too many rinks and fields are already scattered across the city.

However, a quasi-Iroquois Park is in the making at Trent University. And while not everyone agrees it is the best location, Monday’s announcement of $18 million in provincial cash to help pay for a new twin-pad arena and competition-level swimming pool ended any valid argument for an alternative.

The city was already committed to the twin-pad arena and related indoor running track, training centre, meeting rooms and perhaps a restaurant or retail stores at Trent. It was mostly set on adding a pool sometime in the future, although concerned about costs. Now the province’s larger-than-expected contribution has given the pool a green light. Total cost of the facility is expected to be $54 million.

Two ice pads, a training centre and a pool don’t equal an Iroquois Park-style development.

However, pull the camera back and a wider vision emerges. Across Pioneer Rd. from the arena/pool site is a two-year old, lighted baseball field and a high-end turf field big enough for rugby, football, or soccer.

The city contributed $1.5 million toward that $2 million complex.

Across the river on Trent’s west-bank campus, the city gave $1 million toward a $16-million renovation and expansion of the university’s athletics centre. Nearby is Jonathan Chiu Stadium, with an artificial turf field, all-weather track and seating for 1,000 spectators.

Trent also has a rowing facility that is used by the general public. And it has land for future expansion.

Between the city’s past investments, new money committed to the arena/pool complex, Trent’s ongoing interest in partnering and the critical mass that partnership has already produced, the decision on where local sports facilities will be centered has been made.

The process has been somewhat piecemeal. Fleming College has the city’s finest slo-pitch complex, two fairly new artificial turf sports fields and the Wellness Centre. The city was a partner in all those developments.

However, the twin-pad and 25-metre pool tip the balance in Trent’s favour. If massing of facilities is going to continue Trent’s campus is where it should happen. That does not mean a replacement for the Memorial Centre should go there.

On Monday, city council heard that consultants are considering up to 12 potential sites for an arena/concert venue. Trent will presumably be among that large filed, but not a frontrunner.

A recreation complex to accommodate youth tournaments doesn’t need a 5,000-seat arena, or a concert venue.

Downtown Peterborough does, and every effort should be made to fit it there.