Maple Ridge, B.C., July 2, 2026 — Maple Ridge voters will have the opportunity to vote on the funding for three major planned projects to replace aging facilities and bring new ice, pool, fitness, sports, park and other year-round recreation opportunities to the community.
On June 30, Council directed staff to prepare for an assent vote at the Oct. 17 municipal election to obtain voter approval to borrow funds for construction of the three Recreation Ready projects. Each project will have its own question on the ballot.
Council also received the schematic designs for the projects: a new aquatics and recreation centre in Hammond, a 40-acre multi-use park in West Maple Ridge, and a twin-rink arena expansion in Albion.
Residents can learn more about the plans at MapleRidge.ca/RecreationReady and at information sessions on July 9 at the Greg Moore Youth Centre and Aug. 5 at the Albion Community Centre.
"This is an exciting milestone for these much-needed projects and a tangible step toward significant improvements to recreation access and services across the community," said Mayor Dan Ruimy."Maple Ridge is one of the region's fastest-growing communities and our current recreational facilities can no longer meet the demand. Through Recreation Ready, we've charted a practical, phased approach to deliver new spaces for swimming, skating, fitness, sports and community use, while spreading costs over time and continuing to pursue grants and other funding."
If there is voter approval in October, construction of the first phase of the multi-use community park is estimated to begin in 2027, followed by the arena expansion in 2028 and the aquatics and recreation centre in 2029.
Recreation Ready: New Places to Move, Meet and Play
The City launched its Recreation Ready program after completing the Move, Meet and Play recreation facility feasibility study, which included preliminary design work, technical assessments including a transportation impact assessment, and extensive public engagement.
Maple Ridge's current population of about 106,000 is expected to grow by 40 per cent in the next 25 years. The three planned projects will support the needs of a growing community and address a shortage of capacity at community parks and aging facilities such as the 45-year-old Maple Ridge Leisure Centre, 28-year-old Planet Ice arena complex, 63-year-old Hammond Pool.
"Council is planning ahead to make sure Maple Ridge is ready for the future growth expected on the west side along the Lougheed Transit Corridor and other neighbourhoods," said Mayor Ruimy.
Details about the Proposed Recreation Facilities
Hammond Aquatics and Recreation Centre will be a year-round hub for swimming, fitness and recreation at Hammond Community Park, the current site of the Larry Walker and Hammond Stadium ballfields, Hammond Hall and the Hammond Outdoor Pool.
- Proposed amenities include an accessible 37.5-metre, eight-lane pool, an accessible leisure pool with a lazy river, a fitness centre and studios, gymnasium, multi-purpose rooms, arts and culture room, café and above and below-ground parking.
- The preliminary design cost estimate including contingencies is $227 million and estimated construction start date is 2029.
- The second phase of the project will focus on amenities for the park space.
Multi-use Community Park in West Maple Ridge will span 40 acres and is envisioned as a welcoming, year-round destination for leisure, sports, walking and play with views of the Fraser River. The park would be located at the current site of the Maple Ridge Golf Course, which was earmarked for future community use when the City purchased the site in 1972.
- Phase 1 would include a 400-foot baseball diamond with seating for 400, a 350-foot baseball diamond with seating for 200, batting cages, a washroom and fieldhouse, meeting and program room, plaza and parking, new trails and accessible green space.
- The preliminary design cost estimate for Phase 1 including contingencies is $23 million and estimated start date is 2027.
- Future amenities in Phase 2 will be shaped through public engagement and could include trails and view decks, picnic areas, play amenities, active play spaces, water spray park, youth amenities, heritage and cultural interpretation, and tobogganing.
Albion Twin-Rink Arena and Event Facility Expansion will create a larger recreation complex with more ice/dry floor time and space for tournaments, events, fitness and other activities at the current arena complex at the Albion Fairgrounds.
- Planned features include a recreation rink with seating for 200, a spectator rink with seating for 2,000 and premium viewing suites, a large lobby, a fitness centre, a walking track, multi-purpose rooms, a skate shop, concessions and parking.
- The preliminary design cost estimate including contingencies is $143 million and estimated start date is 2028.
Funding to Deliver the Facilities
Recreation Ready represents the City's largest-ever recreation investment, with a total preliminary cost estimate of $393 million.
The funding strategy spreads out the cost over time and minimizes the impact on taxpayers by using a mix of long-term borrowing at favourable municipal rates, fees on new development, senior government grants and potentially sponsorships.
As required by the Local Government Act, the City will seek voter assent during the October 17 municipal election to engage in long-term borrowing to enable next steps of detailed design, public engagement on the design, and construction. All eligible voters may participate.
If the assent vote passes, the City will continue to pursue other revenue sources to reduce the amount borrowed. The City has applied to the federal Build Communities Strong fund, for example, and will continue seeking grants, sponsorships and partnerships.
About 60 per cent of the long-term borrowing would be repaid through property taxes and about 40 per cent through Amenity Cost Charges on new development (ACCs). The ACCs would be phased in over time and existing development applications would have one year from bylaw adoption to proceed without paying the new charges.
Based on current cost estimates, the annual property tax impact of the three projects for homeowners is estimated at an additional three per cent per year for four years (2027-2030) on top of the property tax base. For example, a home assessed at $1 million would pay an additional $90 in 2027, increasing until it reaches $385 annually (about $32 monthly) in 2030. After 2030, the tax amount would remain at that level each year until the loan is repaid. Commercial property owners would also see an additional three per cent per year increase for four years.
Next Steps
Council gave three readings to the loan authorization bylaws on June 30. If voters approve any of the assent questions during the October 17 election, the new Council will then consider final adoption of the bylaw(s), and if approved, the projects would move into detailed design and future public engagement.
Opportunities to Learn More
The City has launched a public education campaign to help voters understand the plans, funding strategy and assent vote process, including:
- Information sessions: July 9, 4-7 p.m. at the Greg Moore Youth Centre, and Aug. 5, 4-7 p.m. at Albion Community Centre
- Handouts and information at public facilities and on City social media channels
- Pop-up information booths at public events
- Details and drawings are available online at MapleRidge.ca/RecreationReady
- Inquiries can be directed to RecreationReady@MapleRidge.ca.
Information about the October 17 municipal election, which will include the assent vote, can be found at MapleRidge.ca/GoVote.
- 30 -
Media Contact
Pardeep Purewal, Senior Manager, Corporate Communications and Public Engagement
T 604 467-4319 C 778-955-4249 E PPurewal@MapleRidge.ca