The city’s newest community centre is receiving accolades for its design.
The B.C. Recreation and Parks Association presented a 2015 facility excellence award to the City of Burnaby for Edmonds Community Centre and Fred Randall Pool on May 8.
Coun. Paul McDonell was on hand to accept the award, according to Burnaby’s director of parks, recreation and cultural services.
The win was exciting, Dave Ellenwood said, but added he knew early on it would be an exceptional centre.
“I thought even in the early design phase, it was going to be a unique and noteworthy facility,” he added. “I think the proof is in the pudding.”
The centre opened nearly two years ago and has been immensely popular, Ellenwood said.
“It’s more popular than even we expected,” he said, adding it averages 2,200 to 2,500 visits a day.
The centre was recognized for “its unique design, community consultation, service to the public, awareness of the environment and commitment to accessibility,” a press release from the association stated.
“With over 125 different languages spoken in the immediate neighbourhood, Edmonds Community Centre is like a mosaic, reflecting Canada’s diverse identity and successfully encourages and engages all to participate in the recreation and social activities at the centre,” Suzanne Allard Strutt, the association’s CEO, said in the release.
The centre was recognized in particular for its role as a neighbourhood hub, the release added.
“Together, the breadth and variety of indoor and outdoor amenities that make up Edmonds Community Centre creates a focal community space,” the release stated.
The centre is 90,000 square feet and includes a seniors’ lounge, kitchen, active studio and children’s zone.
The Fred Randall Pool includes a main pool with six lanes and a leisure pool with warmer water. The leisure pool includes a shallow area with climbing play features for young kids.
There’s also a whirlpool, hot tub, two large twirling slides and a lazy river complete with a bubble bench, detonators, spray arches, a dumping bucket – and its current can be used for floating or water walking.
The lazy river and hot tub are particularly popular, according to Ellenwood.
“It’s always full,” he said.
