Town staff are going back to the public for feedback on the design and content of a new washroom/changeroom facility at Fisher Field.
Collingwood is hosting an open house in October seeking input for the new facility.
Earlier this summer, a staff report to council revealed a concept plan for a clubhouse at Fisher Field based on feedback received from stakeholders.
The concept plan suggests a 3,400 square-foot building with four change rooms, a referee changeroom and bathroom, office space, three single-toilet public washrooms, and a community meeting space.
Dean Collver, director of parks, recreation and culture, said media reports on the concept plan prompted a lot of response from the public, and town staff decided to host a public open house on the project.
Collver told council the design was in a “fluid state,” and both staff and the architect were considering other options to include more toilets.
Council first voted in favour of hiring an architect – Shane Lapiste Architecture – to begin designing a clubhouse facility in 2018.
In March of this year, the architect held a stakeholder engagement session. The town invited soccer, rugby, and ultimate frisbee groups to attend, but only the Collingwood United Soccer Club sent representatives, according to the staff report. The Georgian Bay Titans Rugby provided feedback later.
From that meeting, it was established the soccer club would like four lockable change rooms, washroom facilities for normal use, a referee change room, a first aid room, air-conditioned office space, concession space, and small meeting space.
The staff report also references discussions around a multi-purpose room for extended use by the broader community.
In discussions with the soccer club, Collver said it was understood that on a busy tournament weekend, additional portable toilets would be required.
The total cost estimated for the current concept is about $911,000, with the Collingwood United Soccer Club committing to contribute between $60,000 and $100,000 toward the project.
You can read the staff report here.
At the July 22 council meeting, Collver said town staff were targeting a tender process beginning late summer or early fall, which would require a finished design.
While he said staff still hope to meet that deadline, he couldn’t commit to it without knowing what revisions to the design might come out of public sessions.
The Fisher Field Open House is set for Oct. 3 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Library in Community Rooms B and C on the third floor.
