A Multi-use Recreation Complex (MURC) was approved in principle following a Recreation Facility Needs Study in 2014 that involved much research and public consultation. The MURC is anticipated to include such amenities as a lap and leisure pool, gymnasium, seniors and youth space, park, playfields and a library branch.
The planned location is on the west side of Woodbine Avenue between Glenwoods Avenue and Ravenshoe Road. The concept plan for the facility will be developed with public and stakeholder consultation. Be sure to check this page often for project updates and how you can be involved.
Media Release
Council meetings
March 2, 2018 - Agenda, minutes, presentation, archived broadcast
Council reports and presentations
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Attachments
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MURC site concept -
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Questions and Answers
The M.U.R.C. is an acronym for Multi-use Recreation Complex.
The planned location is on the west side of Woodbine Avenue between Glenwoods Avenue and Ravenshoe Road.
Potential amenities include a full gymnasium, lap and leisure pool, seniors space/room, youth space/room, library branch, park and playfields. The concept plan for the facility will be developed with public and stakeholder consultation in 2018.
In 2014, the Town conducted a Recreation Facility Needs Study. Extensive research was done which evaluated data including our socio-demographic profile, trends and best practices, facility inventory, and a utilization analysis. Public consultation was also a key component of this study with surveys, public information centres and discussions with key stakeholders including sports groups, hall boards, seniors, Council and staff. The public survey showed that 88 per cent of the respondents agreed that “The Town should consider developing a Recreation Centre in the Keswick area with components such as an indoor pool, arena, gymnasium, walking track and or community rooms.” View the complete study here. Throughout 2018, the Town will work to develop the concept plan. Public consultation and stakeholder engagement will be an important part of this phase.
In 2016, the Georgina Public Library Board commissioned a library services and facilities study to guide the development of the library over the next 10 years. Based on professional standards, the consultants identified a lack of 15,000 square feet of library space to meet the present and growing needs of our community. The Library Board Strategic Plan identified the requirement for a branch in the rapidly growing area of south Keswick. The library board settled on a 10,000-square-foot branch with additional space shared with the Town’s Recreation and Culture Department. The MURC project provides an opportunity to address this shortcoming in service levels.
Most new public libraries are being built as part of a community hub rather than stand-alone buildings. These designs have proved to be more cost effective to build and operate, more convenient for residents, and allow for shared space for a variety of activities. It is not feasible or cost effective to expand the existing Keswick branch and the new library will offer new library services that will complement the services offered in the north Keswick branch. The focus will be on digital literacy and community programming space. The library will also meet the need for more children’s programming space and services, which are in increasing demand.
The new library will offer the following services:
- Children and young adult collection and programming
- Popular adult fiction and DVD collection
- Quiet and group study space for students of seven schools within walking distance to the new location as well as distance-learning students
- Comfortable seating for parents waiting for their children at swimming lessons and other sports
- Programming and performance space for library and community events
- Meeting rooms for community groups
- Digital skills training lab to learn new computer and research skills
- Digital media lab including a green screen for video production and editing together with digital recording capabilities
- MakerSpace with 3D printer and other hands-on technologies
History has taught us that single purpose or stand-alone facilities cost more to build and operate. That’s why municipalities across Ontario are now building MURC’s. They are the most responsive and cost effective way of meeting community recreational needs.
The Town of Georgina and East Gwillimbury have been consulting with each other on their respective plans for their new recreation facilities to ensure decisions are not made in isolation. The Town of East Gwillimbury is planning for a Health and Active Living Plaza (HALP) which will be built once their population reaches 40,000 residents.
The 2014 Recreation Facility Needs Study determined that the Town has an adequate supply of ice pads in the community for our planned population. When the Town does reach a size that requires an additional ice pad, the study recommended that the Sutton arena be twinned (add another pad). Twin ice pads operate more efficiently than single pads.
In 2014, the estimated project budget for the MURC was $31 million with a minimum annual increase of five per cent as per the Recreation Facility Needs Study. At that time, it was estimated the construction costs would continue to rise based on inflationary and market factors. The 2019 draft budget of an estimated $42 million reflects the increase from 2014 until 2021/2022 (anticipated substantial completion).
The estimated cost for the MURC was based on 2014 dollars. The Recreation Facility Needs Study, approved by Council in May 2014, stated that construction budget in future years should be increased to account for factors such as inflation and conditions in the construction industry. The report stated that a minimum of five per cent per year be added for budgeting purposes starting from 2014 onwards.
For construction of the MURC, 90 per cent of the funding is provided by Development Charges (DC) and the remaining 10 per cent has been budgeted from the Corporate Capital/New Infrastructure Reserve. It is important to note that the Town does not anticipate any additional tax increases associated with the construction of the MURC. As per the Ontario Development Charges Act, both principle and interest paid on any DC-funded project are also eligible for DC funding. As such, the MURC construction costs including the debenture costs will have no additional impact on the tax levy.
The Development Charges Act provides municipalities with the ability to levy development charges against new growth to help pay for new infrastructure services, such as roads, water and wastewater, fire services, parks, recreation facilities and libraries. For example, the Town-wide Georgina development charge rate for a single or semi-detached residential house is $11,009.
There will be new operating costs associated with the MURC similar to the way that current property taxes pay for the operation of the many parks, recreation and cultural facilities, and libraries that the Town currently offers. As part of the initial 2014 Recreational Facility Needs Study, a preliminary business plan was adopted by Council in principle, which contemplates a net operating cost of approximately $1.12 million per year. A more up-to-date business plan will be developed after further public consultation and the final Council approval of all components within the MURC facility. At this point in time, the tax levy increase relating to operating costs at the MURC can be estimated to be around one per cent.
If Council approves the proposed budget, an architect team will be retained in 2019 to provide a conceptual design that meets Council, stakeholder and public interests. After the design is approved, construction is anticipated to be tendered in 2020, with substantial completion in 2021/22.
The Town also needs to consider the development schedule of the subdivision phases around the MURC lands. Specifically, it will require water and sewer servicing which will be subject to the overall block development plan.
In 2018, Council directed staff to review, in collaboration with public input, the proposed 10,000-square-foot library within the MURC at an estimated cost of $4 to $4.5 million based on a square footage cost of $400 to $450. Once the MURC architect team is hired for the project, the team and staff will host a visioning session with stakeholders to further refine the program and size requirements for the MURC, including the library. Coming out of that there are likely to be a few options related to the library size and potential shared spaces for consideration by the Town. Only once the design is developed will there be a more accurate idea of what the portion of the entire MURC project budget is directly attributable to the Library.
We know what amenities are required for our growing community (pool, gym, senior space, youth space, library branch, park and playfields). Before we build a building that is to serve our community for more than 50 years, we want to ensure we are capturing everything needed to make these critical decisions. The conceptual design phase is all about getting things right. This will include consultation with the public and user groups, as well as careful consideration of activity trends and best practices in facility construction.
The design phase is a necessary part of the construction process which gives the Town more specific details on costing. The concept design will have a long shelf life, prepare us for funding opportunities, and ensure thorough and responsible planning for the facility.
Yes. The Town is one of Georgina’s largest employers. The MURC will require full-time, part-time, seasonal and contract staff who are committed to serving our residents.
Yes, your feedback is a critical component of this process. Just like the public consultation process for the 2014 Recreation Facility Needs Study, a multi-faceted approach to obtain public feedback will be done. Be sure to watch for those opportunities on our corporate channels including our website, social media and the local newspaper.
That’s great! If you do we think others will also. Please send your questions to communications@georgina.ca so we can provide you with the answer.