Busy Hamilton rec centre reopens after 3-year, $14-million reno
Published May 4, 2022 at 2:00 pm
After three years and $14 million, Valley Park Community Centre in Upper Stoney Creek is ready to reopen to the public following an extensive renovation.
To celebrate the occasion, starting Wednesday (May 4) until Saturday (May 7), free drop-in swims and gym programming are being offered to residents. Search for the free programming here.
Starting Monday (May 9), regular drop-in swim and gym programs will come back online, with plans to return to full programming and services by the fall.
“Staff are looking forward to welcoming back residents to Valley Park Community Centre,” said City of Hamilton Recreation Director, Chris Herstek.
“As one of the busiest recreation centres in Hamilton, we know how much these new renovations will benefit the health and wellness of the community for years to come.”
The rec centre and the Valley Park branch of the Hamilton Public Library (HPL) closed in the summer of 2019 for the renovation of the facility and expansion of the library.
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The library expansion saw its footprint grow from 3,000 sqft to approximately 12,000. The building’s efficiency has also seen improvements and the space features more windows, higher ceilings, a makers’ space and a number of other new amenities.
The library, which was temporarily relocated to a building down the street when it closed in 2019, is expected to finally open to the public later this month.
Improvements at rec centre include:
- Expanded recreation programming space
- New reception desk and common areas
- Roofing replacement
- Exterior cladding and block repair
- Pool boiler, pumps and water heater
- Barrier-free washrooms
- Painting of pool area ceiling
- Arena dehumidifier
- HVAC replacement
- Building automation and security systems
- Parking lot resurfacing
A grand re-opening of the facility is anticipated for July 2022.
In 2019, it was estimated that the rec centre and library would reopen again by the Fall of 2021, but COVID-19 caused significant delays in the project.
Valley Park Community Centre first opened its doors in 1982, with the last renovation occurring in 1990 to create the addition of the arena and aquatics complex to the existing recreation centre and library facilities.
More information about Valley Park and the programs available there can be found on the City of Hamilton website. More about the Valley Park branch of the HPL can be found on the library’s website.
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