City says sports field to be smaller, closer to Lakeshore Dr.

Barrie’s synthetic turf, multi-purpose youth sports field and parade grounds are on the move.

The city released new information Tuesday afternoon that staff have refined the location of the field to protect the woodlot, make the field smaller and closer to the road, ensure the paved walking path is not impacted and to consider the use of natural barriers instead of fencing.

But Arnie Ivsins, one of the leading opponents to the field’s location, says this alters nothing, as it’s still to be on city property east of Military Heritage Park.

“It does not change our opposition one iota to the location of this,” he said. “If anything, this will make us stronger and fight more, because obviously our message is not getting through to the mayor and city council.

“We are going to be resolved more than ever to fight back on this," Ivsins added. 

Mayor Alex Nuttall said “council heard the feedback from the public during the deputations on May 15,” and passed a motion to ensure this field meets the minimum size requirements to accommodate the sports identified and to minimize impacts to the surrounding environment, including tree removals.”

“The refined concept map is in response to this direction from council,” the mayor said.

The field is now to be 120-by-78 metres, instead of the original plan for 154-by-100 metres, and located closer to Lakeshore Drive.

City staff say the new location ensures the woodlot is protected, and if any trees need to be removed, they will be replaced.

City council has approved planting an additional 1,000 trees on the waterfront and protecting the Vimy trees, which are not thriving in their current location and, as a result, would be transplanted to a spot that will give them a better chance of survival.

The city has emphasized the Sea Cadets' parade ground and multi-purpose sports field is an open-air facility, without a dome or stadium, and will be for community use.

Public consultation will occur this fall, according to the city, giving residents an opportunity to provide feedback on the design and layout considerations, such as natural buffer options, fences, parking and lighting.

But that doesn’t appease Ivsins, either.

“We’ve made this point before that after-the-fact consultation means nothing,” he said. “You’re just talking about natural buffers and the times that the lights go on and off, how high the fence will be … to us that’s a non-starter.

“It does not need to be there. The city needs to find a new location for the sports field.”

Nuttall said council will take into account feedback from Barrie residents.

“The public consultation is something we have discussed at council and as (executive director of development services) Michelle Banfield has indicated, there will be an opportunity for public feedback on the design details such as design and layout considerations like natural buffer options, fences, parking and lighting,” he said.

The city also released a video about the sports field, which can be viewed here. 

A city staff report says what’s next is the project’s tender preparation, the requests for proposal (RFP), from June to July, the RFP bid evaluation and award, August to September, the field’s design from September to December, and construction from October 2024 to July of next year.

Council essentially approved the field and an addition to Southshore Centre for the Sea Cadets' new home on May 15. A permit is still required from Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority, because its regulated area crosses the sports field’s top portion. An archaeological assessment is also needed.

The field would be for soccer, rugby, football and lacrosse, as well as marching, and there could be amenities such as lighting, benches and site furnishings. The field and the 600-square-metre Southshore addition would cost an estimated $9.1 million. 

This property is zoned and designated open space (OS), which permits the development of a multi-purpose sports field. Accessory uses permitted in OS zoning include bleachers, a club house, concession stand, refreshment pavilion or booth. Parking is also permitted within OS zoning. A paved asphalt, 35-stall parking lot is proposed.

The project includes a premium synthetic turf, multi-purpose sports field concept, and is estimated to cost $4.6 million. The funding will come from three city reserves — development charges, tax capital and cash-in-lieu-of parkland.

The cost of replacing a synthetic turf field is projected, for a 10-year cycle, at about $1.34 million for the turf itself, shock pad and line markings.

Not included in this project is a permanent washroom/change-room facility, with an estimated cost of $650,000 to $1 million.

The Sea Cadets, long located near the Spirit Catcher, would move to a 600-sq.-m. addition to what’s now named General John Hayter Southshore Community Centre, a northerly extension to the basement of the existing building. It comes with a $4.55-million price tag.

At this point, $300,000 has been committed for the addition’s plan and design. City staff will report back to councillors for future construction funding approval, once costing is refined through the design process. No funding source for the Southshore’s Sea Cadets addition has been identified by the city.