Expansion at MNP Sport Centre now slated for spring 2024 start

Construction of new leisure water facilities at the MNP Community and Sport Centre is now slated to begin in spring 2024.

The project has been in the works for several years. The city's website indicates the expansion was expected to start in 2023.

The City of Calgary and the provincial government have pledged funding for the $85 million project.

The CEO of the MNP Centre, Jeff Booke, said water slides, a lazy river water feature, whirlpools and other amenities will be housed in an addition on the west side of the building.

There will also be a new entryway added on the centre's southern side.

More choices

For water activities, he said it will move the MNP Centre beyond its current flatwater facilities, which are used primarily for training and competitions.

"This gives us a chance to add amenities that this centre has never been able to offer and deliver," said Booke.

"It'll allow us to broaden who we serve, how we serve them, with a particular focus on the public side of our dual mandate."

Further fundraising by the Lindsay Park Sports Society (LPSS) is still underway.

Booke said the City of Calgary has contributed $45 million for the project. The federal government has committed $20 million while the LPSS has $5 million ready to go.

Preparations have been going on over the past year for the start of construction.

Booke said they have an architect in place as well as a project manager and a construction manager.

The updated plan calls for a groundbreaking in spring 2024.

Downtown has needs

There's a demand for the city to offer more leisure aquatic facilities in central Calgary.

The Eau Claire YMCA was closed in early 2021 due to falling membership numbers, while the City of Calgary closed its Beltline pool that same year.

Another centrally located facility, the Inglewood pool, was facing a possible closure. But the city agreed to keep the aging pool going while waiting for the MNP expansion to be completed.

Ward 9 Coun. Gian-Carlo Carra said the Inglewood pool is now operating at a reduced capacity due to a shortage of lifeguard staff. But it isn't being closed permanently yet.

"It will keep on going. It will be seamless," said Carra. 

"I will make sure that the Inglewood pool does not close until families in Inglewood have a really good option that makes dollars and cents and provides them a better service, at the MNP Centre."

Underway next spring

As to whether the MNP Centre will have all the money it needs by next spring, Booke said he was "bullish" on their prospects.

"We don't want to start the project and find that we then have to scale back or find alternate sources," he said.

"It's really about understanding the full budget we have, matching the scope to that budget and getting underway."

Booke estimated that once construction starts, it will take about a year and a half to complete.

The MNP Centre opened its doors in 1983.