Biggest recreation centre in Ontario town’s history nearing fall opening

The biggest sports complex in Clarington’s history is nearing completion, with the first phase of the “game-changing” South Bowmanville Recreation Complex set for opening day this fall.

Registration for recreational programming at the new facility on Baseline Road (the site of the former Bowmanville Indoor Soccer Centre) begins September 2.

Phase 1 features will include a multi-sport FIFA-sized indoor dome big enough to hold the entirety of the Garnett Rickard Centre with room to spare; a gymnasium with two FIBA-sized, fully accessible courts for basketball, pickleball, tennis, and volleyball; Durham Region’s first refrigerated outdoor skating trail (170 meters), designed for multi-season use including summer markets; and other spaces, such as multi-purpose rooms for fitness classes and community programs.

The lacrosse bowl on the site will be retained.

Phase 2 features (scheduled for next spring) will be highlighted by a 25-meter, 6-lane lap pool alongside a warm-water therapeutic teaching pool.

Once complete, the facility will be 172,000 square feet, and the Municipality of Clarington is projecting 675,000 annual visits.

“Let’s get ready to have some fun, folks,” said Clarington Mayor Adrian Foster. “The new South Bowmanville Recreation Centre is going to be the largest recreation centre Clarington’s ever seen. Construction of the multi-sport dome is almost complete, and when it opens this fall, it’ll make a big impact by giving people of all ages more room to play and train in our growing community.”

The need for the new recreation centre was identified in 2021 but budget approval was not granted until the current cohort of councillors took office in 2022

The South Bowmanville Recreation Centre broke ground May 1, 2025, with the first phase of the nearly $122 million facility now almost ready to go.

The project has already gone over budget, with estimates for the pool component, plus extra project contingency costs, pushing project costs over the $105 million approved budgeted limit by more than $16.5 million.

The Ontario government kicked in $10 million last year to help the municipality recover some of those costs and support construction of the facility.

Foster has previously said the team is “working hard to keep the project rolling, manage costs, and make sure everyone’s got the services they need,” noting that staff have worked with the design team to reduce costs without compromising on quality and functionality.

Foster, who called the new recreation centre a “game-changer” for the community, said the multi-sport destination is designed to welcome everyone, “from first-timers finding their groove to our homegrown athletes chasing greatness.”

“Picture epic weekend tournaments, kids’ first swim lessons, early morning yoga, and family skates along Durham Region’s first outdoor refrigerated trail, one of the longest in Ontario. With so much more to experience, this is where generations of awesome memories will be made,” Foster said earlier this year. “The South Bowmanville Recreation Centre is a shining example of what’s possible when we dream big and plan smart.”

Clarington hopes to develop the facility into a community hub for sport and recreation and allow the community to host major competitions and leverage the fast-growing sport tourism sector.

Clarington also purchased 20 hectares of land on Maple Grove Road just to the west to build a new outdoor sports and events grounds.

The property will become the site of a new outdoor Sports and Event grounds, creating a central destination for active and passive recreation as well as large-scale outdoor community gatherings.

“We’re thrilled to announce the addition of this major new park space, and we’re really looking forward to making the most of it for everyone. This blank canvas could become the central heart of the community, where we host wonderful gatherings, like Canada Day,” Foster said in February, while thanking staff for “all their hard work” on the initiative.

“The potential here is very exciting.”

Preliminary concepts being explored for the site include:

• A dedicated cricket field
• A municipally sanctioned toboggan hill
• Soccer fields
• A 3.5-hectare outdoor gathering space for major community events
• A covered stage for concerts and live performances
• Connected trails and parking

The Parks, Recreation and Culture Master Plan (2024) identified the need for the municipality to acquire a large parcel of land to accommodate new outdoor sports fields, including a dedicated cricket field, as well as large-scale outdoor community gatherings. At the time, no suitable space was available within the existing park system to meet projected demand.