More community upgrades are heading for Prince George and this time, money is being pooled together for local swimmers.
Roughly $6.3 million has been earmarked for the Aquatic Centre, says a city release this afternoon (Sept. 3) thanks to the provincial and federal governments, in order to repair the facility’s aging walls, roof and mechanical systems.
City officials are said to have been planning on certain upgrades to expand the lifespan of the 22-year-old building.
This new funding is also set to make the Aquatic Centre one of Prince George’s most energy-efficient facilities.
It’s considered the city’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases as the pool suffers from high humidity and air leakage into the walls and roof, which contributes to its structural deterioration.
“I want to express a sincere thank you to the federal and provincial governments for these significant investments in our community,” said Mayor Lyn Hall in a news release.
“These projects will provide jobs, enhance quality of life for residents, improve our community’s environmental performance, and extend the life of City infrastructure – these are all significant achievements.”
The contribution accounts for 42 per cent of the project’s total budget, which sits at $14.9 million, with construction scheduled to start in 2021.
In July, both levels of government also invested $10 million into the construction of Prince George's new downtown pool.
One of multiple thermal images taken in 2018 that confirmed pervasive problems with insulation in the Aquatic Centre. Light colours on the image at right indicate areas of significant heat loss. (via City of Prince George)
