Rollie Miles Park rec centre plans remain in limbo after City of Edmonton update

A small recreation centre at Rollie Miles Park, adjacent to Strathcona High School, remains stalled following a City of Edmonton council committee update on Monday. The proposed site is located at 10450 72 Ave. in the Queen Alexandra neighbourhood and is set to include a new swimming pool, gym, and fitness space. However, the funding for such a project is proving to be a significant challenge.

Mayor Andrew Knack stated that the suggested budget of around $130 million would consume 10% of the city's entire capital budget over the next four years, making it "realistically, not going to be possible."

Despite long-term support for a recreation centre in the south-central neighbourhood, immediate priorities are elsewhere, according to the report presented to the committee on Monday. Mayor Knack described the discussion as a "when" rather than an "if" conversation, emphasizing that determining when the project could be funded is a difficult task.

The preliminary design work for the centre was completed in 2023, but the new recreation centre and indoor pool have not yet been funded. Consequently, the southside facility has been stuck in the design phase for years and will continue to remain so in the foreseeable future.

In the meantime, the Kinsmen Sports Centre to the north and the Confederation Leisure Centre to the south are currently meeting the needs of the area neighborhoods.