A $30 million renovation will deliver fewer upgrades due to inflation.
A long-standing city recreation facility serving Saskatoon’s core is on track for a significantly scaled-down version of upgrades compared to what was originally planned when it was shut down for renovations.
The Harry Bailey Aquatic Centre has been closed since March 2023. The city had proposed renovations and enhancements to the 48-year-old facility that were expected to take as long as two years to complete, for a budget topping out at $24 million, including a $10 million contribution through a federal program.
Council on Wednesday approved a roughly $6 million budget increase, to allow spending of around $30 million. The city administration said this was likely the best price achievable to get essential work done in the current market.
Some items, like a larger fitness area, have been scrapped outright. Some improvements are being scaled back. For example, rather than replacing the 50-metre pool, it will be patched and repaired.
Mechanical and energy updates for the pool and building under the previous plan will still go ahead, as will roof upgrades and a redesign of the change room facilities.
Ward 2 Coun. Hillary Gough called the changes to the originally-planned redesign “really disappointing,” while noting the facility has been “deeply missed” by residents forced to travel to other city recreation sites.
Work is expected to begin next week on the revised renovations, which are expected to be completed in the spring of 2026.
Inflation after the COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected other high-profile construction and maintenance projects in Saskatoon.
Council during the city’s most recent budget process approved a reduction in the city’s road maintenance standard due to inflation affecting the tenders that came back from contractors. Where every road was previously scheduled to receive repairs at least once every 20 years, crews are now to perform work every 25 years.
The Saskatoon Star Phoenix has created an Afternoon Headlines newsletter that can be delivered daily to your inbox so you are up to date with the most vital news of the day. Click here to subscribe.
With some online platforms blocking access to the journalism upon which you depend, our website is your destination for up-to-the-minute news, so make sure to bookmark thestarphoenix.com and sign up for our newsletters so we can keep you informed. Click here to subscribe.