Karen Mackenzie
Northern News Services
Friday, May 25, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - Plans for the proposed fieldhouse facility are getting a makeover.

Frustrated by a lack of progress on the recreation centre, Yellowknife City Council signalled their intent to move forward with a request for proposals for a redesign of the project.

"This fieldhouse has been like a giant gerbil going through a very small snake, and nothing else can pass it until it comes out the other end," said council member Kevin Kennedy at Tuesday's meeting of the municipal services committee. "Instead of a giant gerbil, maybe we should be trying for a smaller mouse."

He and other council members expressed concern that the unrealistic project may be detracting from other potential civic improvements, like a new library.

"I don't see any harm in us looking at different ideas to make this thing work," said council member Bob Brooks. "We've got nothing to lose-we're basically sitting here doing nothing."

Council declined to borrow funds to build the current design, which includes a running track and two multipurpose fields.

It plans to continue lobbying the territorial and federal government to make capital projects, including recreational facilities, eligible for money from the Gas Tax Agreement.

The request for proposals could attract "other architectural firms who may be interested in providing the city with solutions or designs other than what we have," said Grant White, director of community services.

Parties interested in the new request for proposals will be provided with existing studies, according to White.

No time line has been set for the process. Supporters of the recreational facility have been working for more than a year to secure funds for the project, while cost estimates have soared to $20 million.

So far, the city has confirmed funding of $12,850,000 from the Community Facilities Reserve, with an additional $3,150,000 possible from various sources including Facilities for Kids.

"It hasn't died yet, so obviously this is still moving forward. We're still hopeful," said Mike Roesch, president of Facilities for Kids, which could contribute $1 million to the project. "Once we get some direction from administration as to how they want to put together the call for proposals, we'll be there to assist them in any way."

"The cost has always been a major block from day one," he said. "This is kind of a wait-and-see."