Martensville looks forward to new athletic centre
A new expansion and community athletic facility will give some breathing room to the crowded Martensville High School.
“It’s going to be astronomical,” said Jo Osczevski, whose son Alexander starts Grade 10 this fall.
“The facility is going to provide the children with opportunities they would never, ever have without the expansion. I know for one, my son is so excited to be able to have the opportunity that the facility offers,” she said.
“We’ve been super, super cramped for space for many years. It’s huge.”
The 50,000 square foot, $12.5-million facility will be comparable to the Physical Education Centre at the University of Saskatchewan, boasting three full-sized courts and a curved running track. It will also serve two elementary schools.
The City of Martensville is funding $11.1 million, and the province is kicking in another $1.4 million.
The facility is scheduled to be complete by the fall of 2014, while the $26.3-million expansion to the high school will be complete by the fall of 2016.
About 365 students currently attend the high school, vice-principal Peggy Mattila-Bains said.
“Every space is absolutely used. When you think of physical activity, students don’t get the amount of space they could use or appreciate.”
The new space — for athletics in the new facility and performing arts in the high school expansion — will be “powerful,” she said.
“It changes the way things are done in the school, when you have space and you have opportunities for students to be able access specific venues like that,”
Martensville Mayor Kent Muench said the facility will meet a great demand for the city.
“In terms of recreational activities — whether it’s soccer, football, basketball — we just don’t have the space to accommodate that programming. It’s always surpassing what we can handle,” he said.
The facility will help get people active and give the city the ability to host provincial and national events, and it shows Martensville has reached a critical mass of people, he said.
“Other people are realizing this is a great place to invest.”