WHAT’S GOING ON HERE?: Update on ߲ݴýSouth End Community Centre
Here are answers about construction and access to parks
Are you wondering if the South End Community Centre is being built on schedule? Or are you concerned about accessing the Larry Pearson baseball diamonds, South End Community Park and Nick’s Dragonfly Playground this spring?
If you’ve been near Poppy Drive lately, at Bishop Macdonell Catholic High School on Clair Road, you are probably curious about the construction going on or wondering how the work is progressing for the South End Community Centre.
Maybe you have been looking for access to the South End Community Park, Larry Pearson baseball diamonds and Nick’s Dragonfly Playground with no luck yet.
The City of ߲ݴýhas some answers for you.
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A sign says the park is closed behind Bishop Macdonell Catholic High School as of April 2025.
Joy Struthers/Metroland
Just the facts
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Construction started for the new South End Community Centre in 2023/2024 after years of planning.
Danna Evans, general manager of culture and recreation, said this space won’t just be for city services, but it will provide a hub for a community that doesn’t have one yet and bring people together. “The population has grown, which means the need has grown for sport and leisure,” Evans said. “We’re ready for more pools and more ice and gym space and everything else is going to continue and flourish.”
The centre is set to be 160,000 square feet with twin ice pads, an aquatic centre with a lap and teaching pool, a double gymnasium, walking track and multipurpose rooms.
The work is going well, in part because of the mild winter that began in 2023. The overall building structure is now complete, and they are doing final touches. Evans said the concrete, like the bowl of the pool, has all been poured and they are working on “the massive sea of hoses and pipes for pool filters being installed.” The concrete floors for the gym and walking track are complete and they are building areas like dressing rooms and washrooms right now.
The centre is still set to open in the fall of 2026.
No other recreation facilities will be closing or affected by the new one opening its doors, according to the city, because they all provide needed services and spaces.
The South End Community Park closed Sept. 30, 2024, and will reopen this spring.
The area is a favourite for many families with the splash pad, accessible playgrounds, basketball courts, tennis courts, pickleball and more.
Evans said the Larry Pearson baseball diamonds will begin booking again on May 21, and the splash pad in the park will open on May 30.
Parking might look a bit different, but Evans said there will be fully accessible parking again in May.
You can watch a time-lapse video of the work done and learn more information at .
Wondering what’s going on somewhere in the community? Send an email to jstruthers@metroland.com.
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