While the building looks small from outside, it houses two washrooms, a hall that can be divided, storage, a kitchenette, a change room for skaters and an office for parks employees.
The surrounding area, meanwhile, already offers a basketball court and will soon boast a play structure. A full-sized soccer pitch and skating rink with lights are also in the plans. The cost of the play structure is pegged at about $500,000. “We’re very happy to have this in our community,” said Pamela Moss, secretary for the Portobello South Community Development Association (PSCDA).
Cumberland Coun. Rob Jellett added that the second phase should see a splash pad added to the adjacent park area. He noted there’s no money in the city budget for the structure now, which costs about $120,000, but he’ll be pushing for it in coming budgets.
The facility, which already offers a range of summer programs for all ages, will have one part time program coordinator on site, continued David Poirier, the city’s parks and recreation portfolio manager for Cumberland and Orléans. Depending on demand that position could become full time, he said. He added that instructors will also be on site for programming as well as three to five staff for the preschool camp.
Poirier indicated the city hopes to get the play structure in the ground this July, depending on the tendering process.
The community wasn’t just introduced to the various elements at their new community centre, the name of both the building and its hall were also unveiled during the grand opening ceremony.
The PSCDA held a naming contest that was open for a month, explained PSCDA director Steve Sauve. A name that was easy to recognize immediately leapt out, so the association went with Aquaview, named after the street the building is on. He added that name was chosen by a large percentage of those who participated in the contest.
Meanwhile, another name stood out, he continued, noting that name reflects the multicultural nature of the community as well as the spirit of friendship. Allowed to provide a second name for the hall in the building, the association chose “Harmony/Harmonie.”
The Aquaview Community Hall is located at 318 Aquaview Dr.
