New Soccer Facility (Penticton)

by Rachael Kimola - Story: 32130July 24, 2007 http://www.castanet.net/edition/news-story-32130-21-.htm#32130

Ironman Canada and the City of Penticton have joined together to build a multi-use soccer facility in King’s Park. Parks, Recreation and Culture Director, John Kirbyson, says the new facility will provide year-round recreation space for many activities. “It will enhance opportunities for year-round activities and provide recreation space for baseball hitting practice, rugby, field hockey, Ultimate Frisbee, lacrosse, football, freestyle training, dog shows and other special events and activities,” says Kirbyson. He says as well as providing recreation space, the facility will house a recreational track with a rubberized surface around the perimeter of the turf area. How will the project be funded?

The facility, including the recreational track, will cost up to $2.25 million. The South Okanagan Youth Soccer Association and the Penticton Soccer Club will each donate $50,000 toward the facility, for a total of $100,000. Ironman Canada will donate $250,000 for the track. The City will borrow up to $2.25 million – subject to voter approval during the alternate approval process – on behalf of the South Okanagan Youth Soccer Association over a 20 year period. The South Okanagan Youth Soccer Association will repay $1.6 million (plus interest) of that loan, over 20 years, using revenue generated by the facility. The City of Penticton will be responsible for servicing the remaining $300,000 debt. The Community Futures Development Corporation of Okanagan-Similkameen conducted an independent analysis of the basic business plan for the indoor multi-use soccer facility (excluding the recreational track) and concluded “there is sufficient evidence to suggest that an indoor field facility is demanded and has the potential to be self-supporting.”

Who will manage the facility? The South Okanagan Youth Soccer Association will select the contractor and supervise construction of the facility under a construction contract with the City. The South Okanagan Youth Soccer Association will be responsible, under a lease agreement, for maintenance and management costs with the exception of those associated with the recreational track. The City of Penticton will be responsible for the about $9,000 annual cost of supervising the track during public access times. The City of Penticton will own the indoor multi-use soccer facility.