General Sports and Recreation News

[Acitta]

It's not gaming if there's no RGB!

If they added some poles on those tables they could do some adult only bowling nights.

Some locations have video game arcades, laser tag or mini golf.

[dtkvictim]

Can anyone recommend free indoor locations where gymnastic rings can be hung (basically a beam or post 8-12ft high, ideally multiple height options)? Lower traffic locations preferred.

Lots of outdoor options, but now the weather is not nice.

[ac3r]

Not sure if this is new news, but...

The City is proposing to development Phase 3 of the Schlegel Park in South Kitchener. The development includes a FIFA sized field house natatorium/swimming complex and associated parking private roadways and landscaping.

More swimming facilities is always nice to see.

[ac3r]

Furthermore, it seems someone wants to convert the old furniture store at 71 Kingsbury into a hockey school.

To convert the existing building to a commercial school that will provide on-ice instruction for hockey. Two additions are proposed to the building and the creation of a surface parking lot. Access to the lands is proposed to remain from Kingsbury Drive in two locations: one leading to the larger surface parking area and the second to the front entrance to the building and additional surface parking.

Not a bad idea. They went out of business sometime in 2023, so if someone can utilize the existing space to promote recreational activities that's great.

[timio]

Not sure if this is new news, but...

The City is proposing to development Phase 3 of the Schlegel Park in South Kitchener. The development includes a FIFA sized field house natatorium/swimming complex and associated parking private roadways and landscaping.

More swimming facilities is always nice to see.

https://kitchener.citynews.ca/2022/05/17...k-5377204/

[Bytor]

Seems kinda inaccessible by transit, all the way down there.

[Acitta]

Seems kinda inaccessible by transit, all the way down there.

I would expect improved transit to the location once it is built, since it will attract more people.

[ac3r]

A lack of transit at present time doesn't mean the area doesn't deserve recreational facilities. It's a rapidly growing area that will have thousands of people living in new subdivisions and high density condo/apartment blocks. Adding transit routes comes generally comes after you develop an area, not before.

Stuff like this will only help to improve transit by offering new residents a destination to seek transit access to. The more people that move to live and work in the area, the more demand for transit goes up. Keep in mind the population projections for our region. In the next 2 decades, we're likely going to have close to a million people living here. Areas like this will slowly improve, but it takes time.

[neonjoe]

Route 33 does run every 30 mins, 7 days a week. With a connection to both Blockline Station and the Sunrise Centre Terminal.
Proposed route 101 also will be serving this area.

[KevinL]

The Fountain Street soccer fields will have a grand opening on Saturday. https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-...26541.html

Edit: this has been clarified as the following Saturday, the 15th.

[Bytor]

A lack of transit at present time doesn't mean the area doesn't deserve recreational facilities. It's a rapidly growing area that will have thousands of people living in new subdivisions and high density condo/apartment blocks. Adding transit routes comes generally comes after you develop an area, not before.

Stuff like this will only help to improve transit by offering new residents a destination to seek transit access to. The more people that move to live and work in the area, the more demand for transit goes up. Keep in mind the population projections for our region. In the next 2 decades, we're likely going to have close to a million people living here. Areas like this will slowly improve, but it takes time.

"Eventually" isn't good enough. It just shows, yet again, that transit users are second-class citizens. Public transit access *must* be front of mind when choosing where in a city to place a rec complex that everybody will use, not just those who drive.

[ac3r]

Well, as numerous people pointed out there are existing bus routes in the area, MUTs, bike lanes - all of which will continue to improve as more and more people move to the area. But the improvements will mostly come after the destinations are operational. It would be a colossal waste of time and money to just make up a bunch of new bus routes in a part of the region where most people are going to be driving and that isn't just because there is a lack of bus routes already...people that move to a suburb 30-40 minutes from the downtown are probably car owners to begin with, so with some small exceptions most people living out there aren't on their knees begging GRT for buses.

In the real world of planning, we base our decisions on actual data rather than abstractions like ideologies (cars = bad) or desires (adding bus routes when very few people are going to take the bus either way). Give it 20-30 years and these suburban areas of our region are going to inevitably have improved transit and other alternatives, but we need to know what exactly what we need to provide before we provide it.

[ijmorlan]

Well, as numerous people pointed out there are existing bus routes in the area, MUTs, bike lanes - all of which will continue to improve as more and more people move to the area. But the improvements will mostly come after the destinations are operational. It would be a colossal waste of time and money to just make up a bunch of new bus routes in a part of the region where most people are going to be driving and that isn't just because there is a lack of bus routes already...people that move to a suburb 30-40 minutes from the downtown are probably car owners to begin with, so with some small exceptions most people living out there aren't on their knees begging GRT for buses.

In the real world of planning, we base our decisions on actual data rather than abstractions like ideologies (cars = bad) or desires (adding bus routes when very few people are going to take the bus either way). Give it 20-30 years and these suburban areas of our region are going to inevitably have improved transit and other alternatives, but we need to know what exactly what we need to provide before we provide it.

So what you’re saying is, we shouldn’t pave roads until lots of people are driving? That’s what I hear, assuming you’re being even-handed between different modes of transportation.

[bravado]

Well, as we all know, serious modes of transit, which conveniently match the ones that I prefer, are the ones that should come first - and then frivolous hobbies should be allowed to naturally and cheaply evolve after the grownup infrastructure is built.

[tomh009]

"Eventually" isn't good enough. It just shows, yet again, that transit users are second-class citizens. Public transit access *must* be front of mind when choosing where in a city to place a rec complex that everybody will use, not just those who drive.

Do we know whether GRT is (or is not) planning to add service to provide access to this complex? Or are we just assuming that they will not make any changes