‘Quality of life impacts’: South Bowmanville Recreation Centre nearing completion

Program registration for newest rec facility to open Sept. 2

Clarington’s newest, and largest, recreation facility is nearing completion. The South Bowmanville Recreation Centre is expected to open this fall, with residents able to sign up for programming at the centre during the next registration period. What are the South Bowmanville Rec Centre’s features?

The first phase of the project includes a FIFA-sized soccer dome, multi-sport courts, walking track, community spaces, outdoor skating trail and more. “Years of past councils couldn’t agree on anything, but this council has moved ahead and built it,” said Clarington Mayor Adrian Foster of the long-awaited recreation centre, which was first proposed in the previous term of council. When can I register for programs?

Residents will be able to preview programming at the facility beginning Aug. 12, with registration beginning Sept. 2. Planned programming includes evening and weekend children’s activities, indoor walking programs, expanded recreation opportunities and the launch of the new Clarington Sports Leagues. Community sports organizations, local leagues and sport groups will manage their own program registration.

“When you look at what’s really going to impact people’s quality of life, this is it,” said Foster. “The dome has just gone up, and this is bigger than anything we’ve built before.” When will the new facility open?

The current phase is expected to open this fall, while phase 2, which will include a new pool and aquatics centre, is expected to open in 2027. Once complete, the facility will be 172,000 square feet, and the Municipality of Clarington is projecting it will see 675,000 visits annually. The soccer dome alone is about four times larger than the previous Indoor Soccer Centre located on the site.

For comparison, Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Complex, which is currently Clarington’s largest recreation facility, could fit inside the soccer dome with about 20,000 square feet to spare. While the new facility will offer improvements in many areas, Foster noted the facility is part of an ongoing process to address recreation needs, with plans to conduct a study on the feasibility of adding more ice pads at South Courtice Arena slated for next year. “I know people want ice, and that study will happen,” Foster explained.

“But this will be a big improvement for quality of life for our residents.” The existing lacrosse bowl will remain on the site to offer a flexible outdoor option, and the outdoor skating trail, which is set to open this winter, has been designed for year-round use, converting to an outdoor community space in the summer for gatherings, events and markets. The building’s gymnasium will feature two fully accessible multi-sport courts that are about double the size of the gymnasium at the Diane Hamre Recreation Centre, and can be used for basketball, volleyball, pickleball, badminton, tennis and more.