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Let's enjoy the new recreation centre
by Chris Simon

The Innisfil Recreation Centre's large ice rink will open this week, amidst controversy and frustration from local constituents.

Those residents, mostly from Innisfil's minor hockey circle, are upset about the nearly three months in construction delays at the centre. The delays have forced many Innisfil parents to spend money and time driving their children to arenas in Alliston and Barrie for 'home' games.

While their frustration is understandable, maybe it's time to take a step back, and realize the potential this building has as a great place of gathering and athletics within the town.

Once complete, the $29 million recreation centre will feature a twin-pad arena, aquatics facility, gymnasium, fitness room, and community space. It's centrally located in the town, allowing for relatively easy access for thousands of people.

Though the arena portion of the complex will probably not solve all of Innisfil's rink demands, it will significantly reduce the backlog. Town officials say the facility can run 24 hours per day, if needed. That policy could give older teams an opportunity to play at later times, and provide young players with more ice time during the day. Meanwhile, the aquatics facility, gym fitness room and community space are all necessary. The town lacks these facilities, and will be able to provide access at a reasonable cost.

The outdoor sports fields, along with the rest of the recreation centre, is supposed to be ready by spring, just in time to accommodate summer sports like soccer, softball and baseball. Town officials won't confirm exactly when they expect to have the whole facility open though, claiming they were burned by promises for the rink phase of the centre.

They cannot be blamed for being hesitant. Nobody in government wants a controversy, especially concerning a multi-million dollar project. But the construction industry can be fickle at times. When building began, there was no way to predict a roofers union strike would cause two months in delays. Engineers have also claimed difficulty in purchasing certain construction materials, specifically steel, while the weather has been a variable at times.

While construction teams usually take these circumstances into account when they bid for these projects, perhaps it is better to be conservative with timeframes in the future. Even Innisfil's mayor has said the construction goals were probably too lofty from the outset. These promises led to the obvious frustration town residents have shown towards the delays.

They've also forced officials to be hesitant with their comments to local media, something that could keep everyone in the dark during the development of other significant projects.

Some have also wondered why the delays have not dramatically impacted the opening of the town's new administration building, which is scheduled to be complete by mid-January. But there's no reason to believe staff are purposely pressing ahead to get the administration centre open first. The projects were at different stages when the roofer's union went on strike. The buildings are significantly unique in design and scale, and each use different construction materials and mechanical systems.

These facilities will come, and any reasonable delays are probably for the best. Both projects are contracted, meaning there will not be an increase in construction costs due to delays. It's also better for crews to take their time, and make sure the job is done properly.

Cutting corners to get the recreation centre open a few weeks early could be dangerous and costly long-term. Residents need to be patient now, so the entire town can eventually reap the rewards.