Edmonton's west-end residents renew calls for local rec centre

Nearly 30,000 Edmontonians living west of Anthony Henday Drive are being denied access to high-quality recreational facilities, community leaders say.

I think families are ... not able to put their children into the programs and services that they'relooking for, JasonRumer, president of the Glastonbury Community League, told CBC's Mark Connolly this morning.

• Kinsmen vs. west end rec centre: Council weighs where to invest
• $106M-upgrade proposed for Kinsmen Sports Centre

While the west-end neighbourhoods are among the fastest growing inthe city, the nearest city recreationalfacility is the aging and small Jasper Place pool, a 15-minute drive away, he said.

The busy non-profit Jamie Platz YMCA is closer, but it can be difficult to get into programs such as swimming lessons without a membership, which can be expensive, Rumersaid.

A facility similar to Terwillegar, Clareview or the Meadows has been on the books for the west end for a decade, but rapidgrowth means the need is becoming urgent, he said.

Of the nearly 30,000 people living west of the Henday, Rumer estimates 6,000 are children under the age of 14.

The requestedwest-end rec centre will need to competewitha proposed$106-million upgrade for the Kinsmen Sports Centre.

Upgrading the Kinsmen is of great benefit to the city and were not opposed to that, but it shouldnt come at the expense of the residents and taxpayers that have been living in the west end for many decades without access to great facilities," Rumer said.

Now, Rumer is urgingcouncillors toat least fundthe design of a new facility in the 2015 2018 capital budget.

The public hearing for thebudget is Nov.24.