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Recreation Complex Expansion Feasibility Study - Findings
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From Monteith Brown's 77-page Recreation Complex Expansion Feasibility Study presented at a public meeting June 1, 2005 at the St Marys Ontario Community Centre.
Their key findings are:
1. Arena (page 31)
There is demand for additional prime-time ice at the St Marys and Area Arena.
To compensate for the lack of available ice time, some organizations are renting ice out-of-town, while others are not able to expand their programs.
It is estimated that there is a current demand for 1.5 ice pads ( a deficit of 0.5 ice pads).
Slow but steady population growth combined with the aging of the population will have an effect on ice demand over time.
It is anticipated that there will be additional demands for adult ice activities, which will generally be balanced by a slight decline in youth demand over the next twenty years.
As a result, the current deficit of 0.5 ice pads is expected to remain at the same level between now and 2021.
The potential for additional tournaments and special events, while seen as a valuable contributors to the local economy and sport development, is not expected to be significant enough to have any tangible impact on long-term arena demand in St Marys.
However, should the Town make the decision to actively promote itself as a venue for ice tournaments and events - and should the Town be highly confident that it can attract and support significantly more than 5 or 6 tournaments per year that this report suggests is practical - it is possible that a portion of the second ice pad could be justified on that basis.
We caution, however, that attracting events to St Marys in large numbers year after year will not be an easy task and, despite the fact that St Marys is a wonderful community with many committed volunteers, there is no guarantee of success.
Given that it is possible to build 0.5 ice pads, the Town must decide whether or not this is sufficient to justify the construction of a second ice pad.
Typically, we would not recommend the development of an additional ice surface unless demand was increasing and projected to reach 0.75 ice pads in the near future.
In the case of St Marys and area, usage from the primary and secondary markets will likely be enough to fill approximately 75% of all prime time ice, with some usage continuing to occur in non-prime time.
Rentals from outside of the primary and secondary markets - as well as increased tournament and event rentals - will be required to maximize revenues and facilty usage.
Even if the Town undertakes these initiatives, it is quite possible that some unrented prime time ice will remain.
As discussed later in this report, the existing ice pad is in need of capital reinvestment.
These improvements should be undertaken in the short-term regardless of whether or not a second ice pad is added to the complex.
The study's detailed discussion of the supply, usage, and demand
for additional arena facilities in St Marys can be seen at
Monteith Brown Arena Analysis
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2. Indoor Pool (page 37)
The population of St Marys and area is significantly smaller than that of most communities with an indoor pool.
Ultimately, this means that usage and revenues associated with a pool in St Marys will be lower than what most other municipalities experience.
The Town's two outdoor swimming venues are popular summertime destinations that provide opportunities for both recreational and instructional swimming.
There are no imminent strucural or mechanical problems with Cadzow Park.
As such, it is possible that both the Quarry and Cadzow pool will be able to continue to serve the community for a number of years to come, although future studies could suggest otherwise.
The introduction of an indoor pool would likely have an impact on the two outdoor venues and vice versa, although the degree of this impact is unquantifiable.
While the need for an indoor pool could be investigated further if/when the Cadzow Pool shell requires replacement, it is important to consider that the cost to build (and operate) an indoor pool is considerably more than it is to construct an outdoor pool.
The child and youth population is expected to decline slightly by 2021, meaning that there will be decreasing demand for instructional swimming lessons, which is an important revenue stream for indoor pools.
Furthermore, the anticipated recreational swimming projections are less than what would be considered reasonable for most municipal indoor pools.
Given the size of the St Marys and area population, the declining child/youth population, and the outdoor swimming opportunities currently provided in the community, there is insufficient market demand to recommend that the Town build an indoor pool at the time.
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3. Fitness Centre and Walking Track (page 41)
There is a movement in the municipal sector away from traditional fitness facilities (e.g. weights, equipment, aerobics, etc.) toward "active living" programming that promotes less strenuous forms of living through everyday activities.
The YMCA Wellness Centre provides traditional fitness services to the St Marys community, as does the local Curves for Women.
Together, both of these facilities likely serve approximately 700 members and both are in a position to accept new members.
Furthermore, many residents patronize out-of-town fitness facilities in Stratford, London, etc.
It is estimated that the total demand for fitness/wellness facilities in St Marys and surrounding area is approximately 1,100 members.
Given the level of usage at the local facilities and the fact that many people are members at out-of-town clubs, there is likely very little unmet demand for fitness facilities in the Town.
If a second full-service fitness facility was provided in the Town, it is likely that some YMCA Wellness Centre members would move over to the new facility, particularly if it offered an indoor pool and/or/ indoor track.
The loss of a significant number of members at the Wellness Centre would jeopardize the viability of that facility, potentially causing it to close, thereby impacting the ability of the Hospital Foundation to meet its objectives
There is insufficient demand to support two full-service fitness operations in the Town.
It is not recommended that the St Marys and Area Arena and Community Centre be expanded to include a fitness centre.
Without a fitness centre, it is likely that an indoor walking track would not be viable either (and could not be physically accommodated at the complex unless a second ice pad was built).
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