Yarmouth Mariners Centre expansion: Aquatics & fitness centres, indoor walking track, multi-purpose spaces part of design

YARMOUTH, NS – When it comes to expansion projects, an obvious question people have is: When?

In the case of a proposed expansion of the Mariners Centre in Yarmouth, the goal is to break ground in the fall of 2024 with construction completed in the fall of 2026.

But at recent public engagement sessions about the expansion the question being answered wasn’t so much ‘When?’ but rather ‘What?’

The sessions were held to receive public feedback on the proposed design and what people think might be missing.

Dorgam Hideib, CEO of the Mariners Centre, hopes people are excited about the expansion and see themselves in these spaces.

With the aquatics centre, he said there’s been a lot of work, thought and consultation to make sure “we’re creating not just a pool, but a community pool.”

There will be two large pools included with the aquatics centre – a lane pool and a leisure pool. Accessibility is factored into the design, as is seating.

“We see all kinds of programming over all ages,” he said.

There will be opportunities for competitive swim training and swim meets; swim lessons; rehab and therapeutic opportunities for people with mobility issues or recovering from injuries; and other types of aquatic fitness.

There’s also the fun aspect too, with a waterslide and other features.

YES, A WALKING TRACK

The proposed fitness centre will incorporate all of the new equipment at the current Mariners on Main facility plus other additions, along with studio fitness spaces for things such as yoga and spin classes, while also ensuring there is room for future growth.

The biggest component is a 135-metre indoor walking track, which has been a wish list of the community since after the original Mariners Centre was built.

A major chunk of funding for the expansion is $15.9-million in federal funding – announced in October 2022 – that is earmarked specifically by the government for recreational infrastructure.

Were it not coming to Yarmouth for this specific project, it wouldn’t be coming at all since it isn’t funding that could be applied to something else.

The provincial government is contributing $4 million towards the project and the three municipal units who are owners of the Mariners Centre – the Town of Yarmouth and the municipalities of Yarmouth and Argyle – are together contributing $10 million.

“The Earth has sort of shifted on us in terms of what things cost,” says Hideib about the timeframe since the announcement. “Hats off to the engineering and design team. We’re meeting our priorities of what we want to build.”

But because costs have increased so has the project’s price tag. Instead of a $30-million expansion, it’s now a $36-million project. A local community fundraising committee has pledged to raise that extra $6 million so items don’t have been taken away from the expansion because of inflationary pressures.

If possible, the fundraising committee will raise $10 million to match the local pledge from the municipal units.

A STANDALONE EXPANSION

To help keep costs down and get the most bang for their buck, the decision was made by the expansion committee for a standalone expansion as opposed to incorporating it into the existing Mariners Centre. Doing so saves an estimated $7 million to $9 million in costs and removes many complicating factors from the construction process.

It also avoids construction disruption to the existing facility, which houses two ice arenas.

The new building will be constructed in front of the Mariners Centre, alongside the existing parking lot. A second parking lot adding another 150 spaces will also be constructed.

There have been 18 stakeholder sessions held since the expansion was announced. The most recent engagement sessions included pop-up sessions in West Pubnico, at the Mariners Centre, at the Mariners on Main facility and at the Yarmouth high school.

A more formal public engagement session was held at the Mariners Centre on the evening of Dec. 7.

“I know we have pictures, but it won’t necessarily look exactly like those. It’s why we’re having these sessions, to see what people will want,” said Argyle Deputy Warden Nicole Albright, who chairs the Mariners Centre Expansion Committee.

About the decision for a free-standing expansion, Albright said you just don’t know what you’re getting into when renovating an existing building.

“They were concerned about that. Having to open up spaces, tear down walls, adjust mechanical systems, it was just going to be more expensive. By having it as a standalone, our experts have told us we will likely attract stronger tender offers. Contractors will look at that and say, ok, this is way less complicated.”

Another design aspect is a universal dressing room area for the aquatics centre.

“We’ve been very clear on making sure we get this introduced to the community and get their feedback,” said Hideib.

“This is a one space for all. Every change and washroom space are completely private if you’re an individual or a family. This is really where design is going. There’s really a shift in making sure everyone feels they have a space, and this design supports that.”

The only common areas are the hallways people will use to access the private change and washroom facilities and the pool deck. These hallways will have clear visibility, including in areas where lockers are located, to promote safety.

A RECREATION HUB

When the expansion opens, the Mariners on Main facility will close. Since it opened (replacing the former YMCA) that facility has been called a “bridge” to the expansion.

The overall goal is to make the Mariners Centre a recreation campus hub with the ice arenas, an aquatics centre, a fitness centre, an indoor walking track, fitness studios, multi-purpose community and meeting spaces, etc. Also included on the grounds of the Mariners Centre is the Yarmouth Splash Park and an outdoor ground hockey arena.

While there is excitement about the expansion, it is acknowledged there will be those in the community who don’t see the need for it. Or those who won’t use the facility and won’t see it as being of benefit to them.

But Albright said whether people use the Mariners Centre or not, its presence greatly benefits the community.

It brings in events and tournaments that bring in dollars to the local economy.

It will be a major drawing attraction for other needed reasons too.

“I am on the doctor recruitment team. One of the things that we talk about is when new doctors come to this area, that’s one of the things they ask: What are your recreation facilities like?” she said. They want to know for themselves and their families. “This is gonna be such a selling feature.”

She said the aquatics centre holds much potential to promote community wellness.

“We’re a fishing community and yet there are a lot of people who don’t know how to swim,” she said. “And there’s so much other potential…like with our seniors who could come in and have therapeutic benefits. How great will that be?”

Information about the expansion is included on the Mariners Centre website on its expansion info page. There will be an opportunity for people to leave comments and to share their input about the design as well.

The design will be finalized in the new year with the goal being to go to tender for the project in the spring.

“We want people to feel like they belong to this facility – that this is theirs,” Albright said. “I want them to be able to come here and feel like they had a say in this is – that what I need is here.”