We can't stop now and do the self congratulations routine. It's time to move onward with the Energy City's recreational facilities.
Now that we have the finest arena of its size in southern Saskatchewan, there is a need to undergo some serious assessments regarding the rest of our recreational, cultural, sports and leisure facilities.
Casting our first glance at Spectra Place's neighbour, the leisure centre, we see how the public library appears to be handling an additional influx of business, but must be watched carefully so we don't get caught off guard.
The gymnasium portion of the centre needed to be expanded to accommodate an increased volume of people and programs. And it was.
Ice availability is better now, with three separate surfaces for indoor skaters and a couple of outdoor facilities to treat casual users. Upgrades to the Icon Centre will be required sooner rather than later and who knows how long the ancient Civic Auditorium and its aging ice plant will last. We'll have to keep an eye on it.
It has become obvious that the leisure centre's indoor pool is inadequate to serve growing needs. With burgeoning water polo, synchronized, lane and competitive swimming classes as well as growing aqua exercise programs, the pool can't handle the demands and with overuse will come additional maintenance and operating costs. It might be time to consider a companion pool, built as an extension to the current pool, or an outdoor facility, next to the leisure centre or perhaps a revival of the once very popular outdoor pool at Woodlawn Regional Park.
What better way to plan the future than to inject a water-based activity centre in the park that is being rejuvenated after the devastating floods. The abandoned chuckwagon track area is being surveyed for campers and plot development. An outdoor pool using modern construction and maintenance methods would attract campers like bees to a blossom. A move in that direction would only enhance the reconstruction efforts being made at the TS&M Woodlawn Golf Course, in fact, a little design innovation could probably bring the two together quite nicely. We've certainly learned how destructive water can be when it's uncontrolled ... now it's time to make it work positively.
Estevan's volunteers have done a fabulous job in building new ballparks that we can point to and use with pride. Progress is being made on bringing football fields and soccer pitches up to code.
The Boundary Dam recreational site has quickly become Woodlawn Regional Park South. Now some additional work needs to be done with the boat launch there and we need not remind anyone of the need to get some positive activities going around the Rafferty Reservoir launching area with an eye toward future camping and cottage development. Once again we should use the water that is available to us as an advantage, not as something to be ignored or feared. That flood was a huge anomaly that won't happen again anytime soon.
With a great stock car track, mature playparks and city walking paths, we have much to be thankful for and still much to look forward to.
We have some great facilities at our disposal now and they attract potential new citizens and curious visitors. They are an integral part of our economic well-being. That is why it is important that we not rest on laurels, but rather to keep our attention focused on the next big thing.
