Grant Park Recreation Campus Plan
& Feasibility Study

The current site – bounded by Grant Avenue to the north and Taylor Avenue to the south – is home to well-used facilities including the Pan Am Pool, the Charles A. Barbour Indoor Arena, and outdoor soccer fields. The public is being asked for their input on the future of the site and this input will lead to a detailed Grant Park Recreation Campus Plan.

A modernized indoor arena, open green spaces, community gardens and a new public library are among the amenities the City is exploring. In addition to having identified some facilities that may be replaced or upgraded, such as the possible development of a new library to replace the existing River Heights Library and the potential twinning of Charles A. Barbour Arena, we are asking for your input along the way to ensure that community has a say in what is included. Public input gathered as part of this process will lead to a detailed Grant Park Recreation Campus Plan – a guide for both the short-term and long-term renewal of the area in a way that meets the needs of residents, families, students and seniors.

For now, this is a planning process only. The scope and timing of the project(s) will be determined as the plan is developed and decisions are made. The results of the planning process will be used to inform the community, Council and will support decision-making.

Some of the community infrastructure available to the Grant Park neighbourhood and surrounding area is in need of repair and upgrades. The City’s Library Redevelopment Strategy makes clear that the need for a modernized library to serve the River Heights/Grant Park neighbourhood is a priority. It is possible that this new library development could be included in the Grant Park Recreation Campus and serve as the ‘kick-off’ project for the broader plan. Establishing cost estimates for the project will be part of the planning process.

The existing River Heights Library does not meet the accessibility and programming needs of the community and requires significant renewal and upgrades to comply with the Province’s new Accessibility for Manitobans Act. The existing Library building’s mechanical and electrical systems are at or near the end of their service lifespan and there are significant structural issues in the building envelope that must be addressed in the near future. The Grant Park Campus Plan & Feasibility study includes public consultation to determine community support for the development of a new,relocated River Heights Library on the campus site. The new River Heights Library will better meet the needs of the community with fully accessible public space, more parking, tutorial and programming rooms, improved study and leisure areas and an outdoor reading and programming area.

The Campus Plan will consider recreation and leisure opportunities for all ages. Inclusion for seniors’ programming in multi-use facilities, accessibility improvements, and improved circulation between sites will be a part of the planning and design process.

This is a planning process only at this point. Once the plan is complete, timelines for construction will be considered in conjunction with other projects happening in the area. Reducing the impact of any potential construction on traffic in the area will be considered and construction of improvements would be scheduled to avoid nearby project construction as much as possible.

The City of Winnipeg project website will be updated as the Grant Park Recreation Campus Plan study progresses. Online opportunities to provide input and feedback to design options will be available. Notice of upcoming public open house events will be advertised in local newspapers and posted in the project area City of Winnipeg facilities (River Heights Library, Pan Am Pool, Charles A. Barbour Arena).