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Plan for new turf fields moves forward

Project proceeds without proposed field house, smaller skate park
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A proposal for three sports fields will not include a field house at this time.

Plans to build three new turf fields in central Abbotsford will move forward after council approved a contractor on Monday, but the scope of the project has been slightly reduced.

Council previously approved a $6.8-million plan to work with the Abbotsford school district to build three new turf fields: one on city land behind Matsqui Recreation Centre (MRC), and two on school district land at Colleen and Gordie Howe middle school and W.J. Mouat secondary school.

The plan originally included $1 million for a field house and $200,000 to relocate a skate park that is on the site.

City manager George Murray told council when the city produced its proposal, it came in higher than budgeted. He said staff pared down the plans to get it closer to the original budget, which included removing the plans for the field house – though Murray said that could be added later if council approves funding in the future.

The size of the skate park has also been reduced, going from "considerably larger than the existing skate park at that site, to slightly larger."

While the project is coming in almost on budget, said Murray – an estimated $6.9 million – it doesn't carry the same scope.

There will be portable change rooms brought in on site.

One synthetic turf field is equivalent to about three grass and sand-based fields, as they can be used all day and in poor weather conditions, and there is no need for long maintenance closures.