North Oshawa to welcome future multi-use community centre

While not technically a ground-breaking, city officials and staff from Oshawa Public Libraries and Oshawa Senior Community Centres 55+ got together to celebrate a new multi-use community centre coming to north Oshawa.

Located at the northeast corner of Thornton Road North and the future Britannia Avenue West extension, the future facility at Windfield’s Community Park will expand the City’s recreational offerings and provide north Oshawa residents with closer access to community resources such as libraries and services for seniors.

The need for an additional recreation facility was one of several recommendations from the Parks, Recreation, Library and Culture Facility Needs Assessment, which was approved by Oshawa Council in 2015 and is expected to guide future facility development until 2031.

“Oshawa will experience unprecedented growth over the next 20 years. The upcoming multi-purpose recreation and culture centre will come online in the middle stages of development and right where the growth is now happening,” said Councillor Rick Kerr, Chair of the Community Services Committee.

The future facility will include new branches of the OSCC55+ and Oshawa Public Library in addition to other facility features – a pool is on the wish list – that will be determined from upcoming community engagement and input from City Council.

“I am so excited to see the collaboration with OSCC55+ and Oshawa Public Libraries on this future multi-use facility,” said Oshawa Mayor Dan Carter. “We look forward to receiving input from Oshawa residents of all ages, user groups and community stakeholders, including Indigenous communities on facility amenities including a dedicated space. These conversations will further enhance our extensive recreation, learning, and creative options offered by the City and its partners for years to come.

The City has budgeted $31 million for the project, with most of the funding coming from development charges, plus another $12 million for the library. No timeline has been set for construction, though it is likely to be at least four years before shovels hit the ground.

“This new facility will allow us to expand programs and services and bring more seniors through our doors to enhance their health and well-being,” said Sandra Black, Executive Director, Oshawa Senior Community Centres 55+. “Thank you to the City of Oshawa for their ongoing support and commitment to provide seniors a facility which will surely become their future ‘home away from home.’”