Georgian Bluffs council is going to be taking a look at a public-private partnership proposal to convert the Derby Community Centre into an artificial turf indoor facility.
A report outlining the proposal by Ontario Sports Development of a potential alternative use for the facility in Kilsyth is on Georgian Bluffs’ committee of the whole meeting agenda Wednesday.
Ontario Sports Development, an affiliate of Brampton North Soccer, approached the township to assume operation of the Derby Community Centre for at least 10 years “to support and service the community with an indoor artificial turf facility at rates which are attractive to local user groups.”
A report by Director of Community Services and Acting CAO Niall Lobley explains Ontario Sports Development is looking for underutilized facilities in communities that could be re-purposed for artificial turf.
The deal would involve Ontario Sports Development investing in the installation of artificial turf and operating the facility for at least a decade, while the township would retain ownership of the Derby Community Centre and responsibility of capital costs.
“The proposal would see this public community facility being run by a private, for-profit business interest, and would require a commitment to maintain the infrastructure of the building for at least 10 years,” Lobley says in a report to Georgian Bluffs council. “Most existing user groups would be able to continue to use the facility, however, user fees would be established by Ontario Sport Development, and would increase.”
Martin Sasek of Ontario Sports Development says local soccer and lacrosse clubs in the Owen Sound area have been supportive of the plan. He says there’s also been correspondences from several other groups who run programs such as indoor flag football or ultimate frisbee.
“There’s quite a diverse amount of groups and organizations that have a viable interest,” Sasek explains.
He calls the proposal a win-win, as the township wouldn’t have to pay for the artificial turf investment and the facility would see a lot more use.
“There’s a demand. They have the facility, we’re willing to invest some money and manage it,” says Sasek. “And we’ve done that before. All around I think it’s a viable option to bring a better sport experience to the kids.”
The Derby Community Centre in Kilsyth is a former arena repurposed as a community facility. It has a concrete arena floor, and a second-floor community space with a meeting room and kitchen. There is no ice maintained in it.
The arena was built in 1967, and a second-floor community space was added in 1976.
A building condition assessment completed in 2020 estimated around $540,000 should be allocated until 2029 to maintain the aging facility. But Lobley’s report says the building would require about $1.5-million over the next decade in improvements.
“Staff believe that access to grants to support building infrastructure will be limited in nature without significant improvements to environmental performance and accessibility,” he says.
Currently, the space is routinely used by the Derby Pioneers every other week. Roller Derby and Owen Sound Lacrosse also make use of the arena floor for a few weeks early in the spring.
“The facility is currently under-utilized with less than 15 hours of programming a week on average … It is likely that a facility such as this would support a regional interest, drawing teams from across Grey County and beyond,” Lobley’s report says. “As the arena floor is not full sized, the venue would be a practice venue rather than a destination for competitive play but would potentially support year-round use.”
Staff will be seeking direction from Georgian Bluffs council at Wednesday’s meeting on whether the township should continue to explore an agreement for the alternative use of the Derby Community Centre.
If that’s approved, a formal proposal would be brought back to Georgian Bluffs council for consideration.
Sasek says the aim would be to have artificial turf installed and ready for rentals by “September at the latest” if the proposal is approved by the township.
