Plans for the new Southwest Community Centre. Photo courtesy of london.caPlans for the new Southwest Community Centre. Photo courtesy of london.ca
London

Southwest Community Centre Plans Taking Shape

After years of planning, Londoners are getting a glimpse of what the city's largest community hub will look like.

The Southwest Community Centre is projected to open in 2018. Construction is slated to start in 2016 and cost an estimated $55-million.

"The building is starting to take shape in its form relative to the interior uses and spaces, but there's detailed design work around all of it yet to happen. The site plan has yet to be developed," says London's Managing Director of Parks and Recreation Bill Coxhead."This is the biggest single parks and recreation that I've been involved with in my career of 25 years."

The facility will boast a twin pad arena, lap and leisure pools, a walking loop, fitness studios, a childcare space, a full service public library, activity rooms, a community kitchen and several multi-purpose rooms.

It will be run by the YMCA, which is putting $10-million towards the project. The Westmount library branch will run out of the new building and bring $5-million to the project. The remaining $40-million is coming from the city.

The community centre take up the empty portion of land between 491 and 499 Southdale Rd. W.

For the latest on the development click here.

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