Dear Editor,
[RE: City of Maple Ridge considering new $393 recreation proposal, June 19, The News]
As a Maple Ridge resident since 2015 and the father of a one-year-old, I strongly support building a new aquatic centre in our city.
My family often drives to Walnut Grove in Langley to use recreation facilities because the options in Maple Ridge are limited and frequently overcrowded. That seems backwards to me.
If I live in Maple Ridge, pay taxes in Maple Ridge, and am raising my family in Maple Ridge, shouldn’t I be able to enjoy quality recreation facilities here too?
The city is right about one thing: Maple Ridge has outgrown its recreation infrastructure. Swim lessons fill up almost immediately, pool space is limited, and Hammond Pool is nearing the end of its useful life.
The demand is already there, and our existing facilities simply aren’t keeping up.
Where I disagree with council, however, is on the size of the overall proposal.
If we’re looking at which project will benefit the greatest number of residents, the aquatic centre should be the clear priority.
A new pool and recreation centre would be used by families with young children, students, seniors, swimmers, people with disabilities, and residents who simply want to stay active. I’m not convinced the same can be said for every other project included in the package.
I support building a new pool. What I’m less certain about is whether Maple Ridge should take on nearly $400 million in projects all at once.
Why not focus on the aquatic centre first, get it built, and then evaluate the next phase based on community needs and the city’s financial position at that time?
I also think residents deserve a clearer explanation of the projected $227-million cost of the aquatic centre.
Burnaby’s new Burnaby Lake Recreation Complex is estimated at approximately $253 million and includes a 50-metre competition pool, leisure pool, diving facilities, and an NHL-sized arena.
Maple Ridge’s aquatic centre alone is estimated at $227 million. Residents should understand what accounts for the relatively small difference in cost.
Don’t get me wrong though. I’m not saying we shouldn’t build the pool; it simply means taxpayers deserve to know they’re getting good value for their money.
Finally, I think it’s important to keep the tax impact in perspective.
According to the city’s estimates, the owner of a $1-million home would pay about $385 more per year once the increases are fully phased in. That’s roughly $32 per month.
Many of us spend more than that on streaming subscriptions, takeout, a bottle of wine, or the occasional lottery ticket.
Parents regularly spend hundreds of dollars on toys, sports equipment, and activities for their kids. If we’re willing to spend money on those things, surely we can invest a little more each month in a facility that will help thousands of local children learn to swim, stay active, and develop healthy habits for years to come.
Maple Ridge absolutely needs a new aquatic centre.
The real question is whether we should be trying to build everything at once.
In my view, we should focus on the project that will serve the most residents, make sure we’re getting good value for the money, and then move forward from there.
Michael Xie, Maple Ridge
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