Island Park chosen for multiplex

September 20, 2007
Portage Daily Graphic
Written by: John Cairns

Project to move ahead: mayor

Portage la Prairie Mayor Ken Brennan announced at William Glesby Centre this morning the new multiplex for the Portage region will be located on the fairgrounds in Portage’s Island Park. Staff photo by Cynthia Münster

Island Park will be the site of the new multi-purpose recreation facility for Portage la Prairie.

The long-term lease agreement between Portage Industrial Exhibition Association and the city and RM of Portage was announced this morning at a press conference at William Glesby Centre in Portage.

Island Park was one of two potential sites for the new recreation centre, along with Republic of Manitobah park. The selection of Island Park came down to a favourable final vote of the Portagex board last night.
Portage Mayor Ken Brennan was in a celebratory mood when he heard the news.

“I can speak on behalf of all of us on the multiplex committee that we’re pleased at the result of the meeting of the Portage exhibition,” he said.

Brennan called the multiplex “the most exciting thing we’ve seen in our community in our lives.
“We want to do it right the first time,” he said.

Elected members from Portage city council and the rural municipality said Island Park is the best choice for a number of reasons, the foremost being its central location. Another factor is the enhancement of Island Park as a place for sports and recreation activities.

“It complements the desire of people, on city councils previous to us, that the Island Park should be a place for sports, recreation and leisure activity,” Brennan said.

He said the facility will open opportunities for bigger and better sporting events as well as concerts and trade shows. He foresees the multiplex as “the jewel in the crown of Island Park” and said it will be a shot in the arm to the entire exhibition area.

The new multiplex will include two ice surfaces, an indoor aquatic centre and other recreational facilities. It will also be the new home of Portage Terriers. The timetable calls for the facility to be completed by January of 2010.

Coun. Dave Quinn said he is “ecstatic”.

“We didn’t have an absolutely perfect spot where everyone will be thrilled to have it there, but this is the best spot,” Quinn said, adding the multiplex fits in with the overall vision of Island Park as a place for recreation.
What is not settled yet is the exact location of the multiplex on the fairgrounds, although Brennan said various options are available.

The location footprint presented at the press conference called for the multiplex to be built on the eastern side of the exhibition grounds over part of the old racetrack, with space available for parking. The existing exhibition grandstand would not be affected, although there is some discussion the grandstand could be replaced in the future.

Brennan said the existing bridge to Island Park should be able to handle the traffic in and out of the facility given the city’s experience with previous big events at Island Park.

It was also announced the city and RM of Portage will form a new partnership with the exhibition association in the development of the multiplex.

Portagex association president Paul Trimble said the new facility “gives (the exhibition) a chance to renew ourselves” and provides “opportunities that the new building represents for the fair as well.”

Reeve Toby Trimble of RM of Portage praises the partnerships that have developed between the RM and city in getting the multiplex accomplished.

“The RM’s been part of the project from the start and we are committed to a third of the initial input of cash into the multiplex,” Trimble said. “The potential is there for many things to happen in conjunction with the fair or with activity on the grounds.”

Coun. Jeff Bereza, a longtime proponent of a new multiplex, was grinning from ear to ear when the announcement was made.

“This is a real emotional time. This is something the city and the RM have been working toward for a long time,” Bereza said.

Next up will be a community fundraising campaign. The city and RM have committed up to $24 million jointly for the project, but more will be needed.

“The Portage Recreation Committee, who are the fundraising group, will be going into the community and they will be embarking on one of the most aggressive fundraising efforts that the RM and city has ever seen in our history,” Brennan said.

The committee will seek personal contributions, business contributions and any source of funding that they can come up with.

“We were waiting for this day so we had a site to build on and commitments from everyone involved,” said Brian Gilbert, co-chairman of Portage Recreation Committee.

He said the next effort is to hammer out the strategy on what the fundraising will look like and how to recognize individuals and businesses looking to contribute to the project. He expects that to take place in the next couple of weeks.

Brennan said with the site officially selected, people can start to make firm decisions on how the facility will take shape.

“Up until now, everything has been conceptual,” Brennan said, “and now that we have a site we can start to nail things down and really start making decisions.”

© 2007 Portage Daily Graphic. All Rights Reserved