The turf inside Penticton’s Sportsplex has outlived its lifespan and is in dire need of replacing. But it’s going to cost more.
Inflation and the rising cost of installation is upping the price to re-turf by $100,000, said Kelsey Johnson, city manager of recreation. That’s what Johnson told the city’s parks and recreation advisory committee during their Monday meeting.
The city looked at two options. The first, which is the recommended option, is to replace the turf at a cost of $300,000. The turf has a lifespan of 12 to 15 years.
The cost to install new turf was originally $200,000 in 2019 when the city first looked at it. But inflation, increased cost of turf and installation has increased the price by $100,000.
To put in a multi-sport court would have cost $425,000 and has a 20-year lifespan.
The committee voted unanimously to support the turf option. City staff will bring the option to council at the March 1 meeting.
If it is approved, installation of the turf will happen July or August, said Johnson.
The city had been working with the joint lessees, Penticton Football Club (PFC) and Penticton Soccer Club, Adult Club for the last few years in an effort to improve the use of the facility, such as multi-use, including the addition of new tenants (daycare) to provide additional revenues, and of course providing a much valued service for the community, said Anthony Haddad, city director of community services.
“Over the past year it has became evident that the city is in a much better position to look after the overall operations, in particularly as we look to providing a new surface within the facility and other capital requirements,” he added.
The city’s online booking system has a better ability to look after the operations of the Sportsplex into the future, Haddad told the Western News.
The Sportsplex is the only indoor sports facility in the South Okanagan and is located on Eckhardt Avenue beside King’s Park.
The Adidas Sportsplex was built in 2008 by the Penticton Soccer Club with a $300,000 grant from the City of Penticton and another $250,000 from the Penticton Ironman Society.