The City of Kitchener hosted a groundbreaking event today, marking the commencement of construction on a new multi-purpose indoor recreation facility at RBJ Schlegel Park. This state-of-the-art facility is designed to meet the diverse and evolving recreational needs of Kitchener residents for years to come.
In April 2024, the Kitchener City Council approved the construction of this premier indoor recreation complex, which will also be the city’s first net-zero carbon building. Expected to open in late 2026, the facility is anticipated to attract more than 380,000 visitors in its first year of operation.
The project is supported by significant investments from both the federal and provincial governments. The Government of Canada is contributing $9.7 million, and the Government of Ontario is investing over $8 million through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP). The remaining $126.2 million of the total $144 million project cost will be funded through Development Charge revenues collected by the City of Kitchener, ensuring no impact on municipal taxes.
Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic expressed his excitement, stating, “The vision for this new multi-purpose recreation facility for our community has become a reality with today’s official groundbreaking and the much-anticipated launch of the construction phase. As a Council and a community, we are grateful for the investment from both the Federal and Provincial governments in one of the most energy-efficient and sustainable recreation facilities in Canada. This new recreation complex will meet the diverse recreational needs of our residents for decades to come and will be a wonderful addition to RBJ Schlegel Park.”
The new recreation facility will feature numerous amenities to support a wide range of sports and physical activities:
- A FIFA-sized indoor turf fieldhouse that can be divided into four individual fields for sports such as soccer, cricket, and lacrosse.
- An aquatics centre with a community leisure pool and a separate lane pool, both with viewing galleries.
- A second-floor walking track around the turf field perimeter, allowing year-round indoor activity.
- An indoor cricket batting cage to support the growth of cricket in the community.
- A multi-purpose space with top-notch athlete amenities, including a large dividable room for community events, family parties, or rentals.
Designed as one of the most sustainable recreation facilities in Canada, the new complex will operate with high energy efficiency through a geothermal heating and cooling system and will house the city’s largest array of solar panels, reducing carbon emissions by 22 tonnes annually and saving close to $100,000 in utility costs each year.
Ward 8 Councillor and Chair of the Community and Infrastructure Services Committee, Margaret Johnston, emphasized the environmental commitment, stating, “Our community facilities are much-loved but significant contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. To make meaningful progress towards the City’s GHG emission targets, we are taking our environmental commitments seriously. That’s why this new recreation facility is being designed as one of the most sustainable recreation facilities in all of Canada.”
The facility will integrate well with the existing outdoor amenities of RBJ Schlegel Park, which includes two outdoor soccer fields, a multi-purpose turf sports field, a cricket pitch, four outdoor courts, a splash pad, and other play areas.
The City is employing the Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) method for the design and construction of the Kitchener indoor recreation complex. This approach unifies key parties responsible for the design, fabrication, and construction components through a single legal agreement, providing more cost certainty and expediting project completion.
Future phases of the project may include additional indoor gymnasium space, contingent on further government funding, to continue supporting recreational opportunities for Kitchener’s growing community, including youth and families.
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