A proposed project to make improvements to sports facilities at Carrie Jane Gray Park was enthusiastically welcomed by city council Monday night.
Council unanimously directed city administration to utilize the Carrie Jane Gray Park Renewal preferred concept plan in a phased approach through incremental annual budget funding submission requests, starting in 2025.
The project stems from a May 2023 council meeting in which council directed administration in May 2023 to add a capital project to its future capital plan to find a centralized location for a new synthetic turf field that the city would manage.
Masich Place Stadium is fully scheduled, according to the report, and construction of another all-weather field, at the urging of the Prince George Kodiaks junior football program, would be well-received by various sports groups whose use of existing natural fields is restricted by the short outdoor season, from May-October.
City parks supervisor Robyn McConkey said the initial phase possibly to be presented for council approval next year is to service the 40-hectare park with roads and parking and the relocation/rebuild of the BMX track that would cost between $1.5 million and $2 million.
“Synthetic turf fields, in today’s dollars can run municipalities $12 million,” said McKonkey.
While the total of the entire project was not revealed, council indicated a revitalized Carrie Jane Gray Park would add to the city’s sport tourism industry and would encourage more local participation in recreational sports.
Councillors suggested the city administration look into organizing a fundraising drive and investigate public-private partnerships to help fund park refurbishments, which include a centrally located washroom/changeroom/storage facility.
