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Winakwa Community Centre

Redevelopment Project

History/Accomplishments

Established in 1952, Winakwa Community Centre was one of the largest community centres in Winnipeg, serving both Windsor Park and Niakwa Park. A ground-breaking ceremony in 1961 saw the construction of a dance hall and hockey change rooms to accommodate over 800 registered hockey players!

Through the years, Winakwa has grown and changed to meet the needs of the community (which now encompasses Southland Park and Promenade du Parc). In the 1980’s, a multi-purpose room, craft room and barrier-free washroom were added. In the 90’s, we saw the addition of a new playground and wading pool, and a new attached garage.

The new millennium saw the formation of the Winakwa Building Committee to address the best approach for future development. Its first order of business was to conduct a survey of area residents to gain input in the planning of improvements at Winakwa. The response was an overwhelming consensus for the following improvements:

·        Replace outdoor hockey rinks

·        Construct indoor gym

·        Restore building/site

 The Winakwa Redevelopment Project was born! Through consultation, a practical, cost-effective design was chosen, to be implemented in two phases:

 Phase 1:

 Phase 1 addressed site works, with the following accomplishments:

·        Demolition of 3 outdoor rinks and storage building

·        Two outdoor rinks were restored (one asphalt, one sod)

·        New players box/storage building was constructed

·        Parking lot was expanded to over twice its original size

·        Portable skateboard park was installed

·        Landscaping was enhanced

 A new LED display pylon sign will complete Phase 1 during the summer of 2006, for a total expenditure of almost $400,000! The City has noted that the extensive commitment of the volunteers and management of the site works are exemplary. The City will be using techniques implemented by Winakwa as a model for other centres.

Thank you and congratulations to all involved!

 Phase 2:

 Winakwa is an extremely active community centre and has been ranked as one of the top ten centres in the City (re: Community Review Task Force Report, 2004). Trends indicate a move towards indoor programs, and we have addressed this by introducing several new programs such as basketball, volleyball, indoor soccer, table tennis, fitness classes and youth drop-in. Unfortunately, many of these programs must be accommodated off-site and several new programs have been turned away due to lack of space or proper facilities. Finding available gym space is a growing challenge that will not be met by the Louis Riel School Division, who report a 2% vacancy rate. With the recent announcement of mandatory gym class for S3 and S4 students, demand for gyms is ever increasing.

 The scope of work for Phase 2 encompasses the following:

(Please see Below site plan and floor plans)

 1. Renovations to the existing building:

·        Conversion of existing change rooms to new storage and games rooms

·        Relocation of change rooms, storage and mechanical for new public area lobby and control office

·        Expansion of existing meeting room and coat room and relocation of easy access washroom

·        Renovation of washrooms and equipment rooms to accommodate a new storage room, janitor’s room and expanded equipment room

2. New addition:

·        New front entrance

·        Gymnasium

·        Mezzanine viewing gallery

·        Change rooms

·        Washrooms

·        Mechanical

·        Referee change room

·        Circulation area

Phase 2 will address the following objectives:

·        To address the severe shortage of space for indoor athletic activities

·        To alleviate booking pressures of the existing banquet hall

·        To alleviate booking pressures of gymnasiums in the Louis Riel School Division

·        To provide a permanent home for the Youth Drop-in program

·        To increase programming, including offering space for seniors groups and other special interest groups

·        To greatly improve change room and washroom facilities

·        To expand the existing meeting room (craft room) to provide easy access for larger functions

·        To provide indoor viewing for rinks

·        To address the shortage of functional storage space

·        To provide a central control office for improved site supervision

·        To provide an easily identifiable front entrance

 Next Steps

Phase 2 has been estimated to cost 1.8 million dollars. Applications have been made through the Municipal-Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF), the Winnipeg Partnership Agreement and the Community Centre Incentive Fund.

The success of these applications will be based on conformity to the new Recreation and Leisure Facilities Policy (RALFP), adopted by City Council in 2005. The intent of the policy is to develop a more sustainable community centre model, as many of the 71 centres are in a considerable state of disrepair and suffer from lack of amenities, programming and volunteers. It’s been estimated that it would take about $40 million to get all of the community centres into decent condition, plus a considerable increase in the budget to keep them there.

Currently, District Plans are being developed by the General Council of Winnipeg Community Centres. With the help of representatives from each community centre, fifteen project proposals have been evaluated and ranked for consideration by the City’s Executive Policy Committee (Plan to be submitted to EPC in June/06). Evaluation criteria fell under the following headings:

·        Community driven needs and solutions

·        Facility and site considerations

·        Sustainable and contemporary mix of facilities

·        Cost/funding

While Winakwa Community Centre fared well in this evaluation process, the “RALF” policy presents a challenge to community centres wishing to expand, as no new heated square footage can be added unless some other recreational space is deducted from the city’s inventory. Even if a centre has its own money for construction, the added area could be viewed as “a gift the City cannot afford”, as it is the City’s responsibility to provide annual operating dollars, based on square footage and population.

At this point, The Winakwa Building Committee has done all its homework and must now wait for a decision and/or further guidance from the City and GCWCC. Although GCWCC will make recommendations to EPC in June, it is ultimately City Council that has the final say and we should expect to hear their decisions prior to the Oct. 25, 2006 election. Please refer to this site at that time for further updates!

Thank you to all those who continue to support Winakwa Community Centre. Together, we have accomplished much. Together, we will ensure that Winakwa remains a vital part of our community!