The Town of Georgina held a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Multi-Use Recreation Complex (MURC) – the largest project in its history. Mayor Margaret Quirk, Members of Council, dignitaries and Town staff gathered at the site on the west side of Woodbine Avenue between Glenwoods Avenue and Ravenshoe Road for the sod-turning event.
“This is a historic day in Georgina as we break ground on this incredible new facility to serve our growing Town,” said Mayor Margaret Quirk. “This is an important milestone in our efforts to expand recreation services in Georgina. The MURC is a beautifully designed building that will become a true multi-use community hub. It will offer affordable, quality recreation and library services, and provide options for all ages and abilities. The MURC will be funded by development charges which means there will be no tax levy increase for residents.”
The new facility is expected to be open for use in the fall of 2023.
The project is being designed with energy, environment, and occupant health and well-being in mind. It is being built to achieve a Gold level of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Certification, one of the highest rankings available. Some of the green design components include improving water efficiency, optimizing energy performance of heating and cooling systems, using sustainable materials, improved indoor air quality, maximizing use of daylight and drought resistant plants.
The recreation complex will be a community space for the whole family and will include –
- Six-lane 25-metre pool
- Therapy pool
- Double gymnasium
- Indoor walking track
- Multi-use meeting/activity rooms
- Active living space
- Discovery Library branch
The Discovery Library branch will offer one-stop services, expanded programs and new technology options. The goal is to create an inclusive environment that offers multi-purpose and multi-generational spaces to serve as a community living room and hub.
The anticipated project budget for the MURC is $50.2 million. It will be 100 per cent funded by development charges due to legislative changes at the provincial level. There will be no tax levy increases relating to the MURC capital and operating costs. The anticipated annual net operating costs for the MURC will be approximately $2 million. The entire amount will be funded through assessment growth, which is the new property taxes that will be collected from new development. As a result, there will be no tax levy increases relating to the MURC operating costs.
The design for the MURC was developed with public and stakeholder consultation that included public input sessions, surveys and outreach throughout the Town at various community events. Information was shared on social media, in print and online on the dedicated Building Georgina webpage. A video was also created that highlighted the community involvement in the project.
To learn more about the MURC, and see the time-lapse camera, visit georgina.ca/MURC. To learn more about other Building Georgina projects, visit georgina.ca/BuildingGeorgina.