Think Big: RMWB Council approves expansion at MacDonald Island Park
10-Jul-12
Fort McMurray, AB, July 10, 2012 – Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo Council (RMWB) unanimously approved a $127 million expansion at MacDonald Island Park on Tuesday night.
The vote followed a presentation from Tim Reid, Chief Operating Officer at MacDonald Island Park and Nick Sanders, Chair of the MacDonald Island Park Board of Directors.
“I applaud the public engagement efforts at MacDonald Island Park regarding their expansion,” said Melissa Blake, Mayor of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. “The result will be an even more dynamic and impressive facility to serve our region for years to come.”
The MacDonald Island Park Board of Directors finalized its recommendation following approval of final design and project costing at its meeting on June 8, while grounding its decision on the results of three periods of community engagement that began in 2011 and the following project goals:
· Build a world-class development for a livable City Centre
· Produce a community-led project based on collaboration
· Ensure expansion meets the needs of today and tomorrow
The final guaranteed maximum price for construction provided by Clark Builders and Turner Construction Company is $107.9 million and soft costs associated with Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment (FF&E), bringing the total to $127 million.
“We thank RMWB Council for its thoughtful review and for its approval of the expansion. We look forward to beginning construction in the fall,” said Sanders. “This project has been community-led from the beginning and we applaud Council for its progressive vision in supporting what we believe to be a major catalyst for a world-class downtown Fort McMurray.”
The MacDonald Island Park expansion includes:
· Outdoor Performance Centre
· Community Pavilion
· Shared Space & Conference Centre
· Tournament Centre
· Skywalk to Suncor Community Leisure Centre
· Interpretive Trails
· Badminton Centre
· Turf Field House
· Rowing Centre & Marina (dependent on development of the Snye)
· Expansion of Fitness, Wellness & Golf space
· Restaurant
The expansion does not include underground utility redevelopment or the pedestrian bridge that would connect MacDonald Island Park across the Snye to the existing Lower Townsite. These elements will be included in the RMWB City Centre Plan.
Architecture: ATB, 360 Architecture, Clark Builders and Turner Construction Company are the contractors charged with delivering the expansion project in consultation with the MacDonald Island Park Board of Directors. Construction will begin in September, 2012, while the first phase of expansion is expected to open in July, 2014. Full project completion is scheduled for winter, 2015.
Renderings of the expansion project, including a 3D fly-through, can be viewed at macdonaldisland.ca.
