Plans for a new community centre in Oro-Medonte are evolving, and the township wants to hear from its residents.
The township has launched a “feasibility survey” to gauge the community’s interest in a fitness centre being included in the development.
“There isn’t really a true fitness centre in the township,” said Shawn Binns, Oro-Medonte’s director of operations and community services. “We want to take a longer-term view of what our community needs are going to be with this facility.”
The development is a joint effort of the township and the Simcoe County District School Board, which will be building a new elementary school at 739 Horseshoe Valley Rd., at Line 4. The community centre will be part of that building.
Oro-Medonte council has determined the conceptual components of the community centre: full-size gymnasium with auditorium/stage (shared space with the school board), multi-purpose space/kitchen (for the township), multi-purpose trails around the property, and the development of a site master plan.
When the township was consulting with residents, some indicated a desire to see a fitness centre and indoor walking track. That’s why the survey was launched.
The survey will be available online for approximately another week. In the few days since it was posted, about 400 people have responded.
The township and school board recently hired an architect.
“The next step for us is to start laying things out and conceptualize the design,” Binns said.
Until that has happened, there won’t be any cost projections.
The goal is to have the school and community centre open in time for the start of the school year in September 2022.
“This is a really unique project,” Binns said. “It’s not often that new schools are constructed in rural areas. We’re looking forward to working with the school board.”
The survey can be found here.
