McKay Road East: Future home of South Barrie Recreation Complex and Library

Mayor Alex Nuttall announced the construction of a new sports complex on the 100-acre site at the corner of McKay Road East at Huronia Road.

A new sports and library complex is a slam dunk for the city of Barrie.

Mayor Alex Nuttall made the announcement on the 100-acre site at the corner of McKay Road East at Huronia Road Thursday morning.

Located near the Salem and Hewitt’s prime development areas, the location is accessible and will become more so in the future with the expansion of the Highway 400 interchange at McKay Road.

The current farmer’s fields and wooded lots were expropriated by Barrie council April 16.

“This site represents the future of recreation in South Barrie,” said Mayor Alex Nuttall, in a news release. “This project is about more than just infrastructure; it’s about building community.

“We’re going to create a space that will bring people together, support Barrie’s growing population, and enhance quality of life through recreation and culture for generations to come,” added the mayor.

• Download the CTV News app to get local alerts on your device
• Get the latest local updates sent to your email inbox

Some of the expected amenities are: a quad-pad arena, eight-lane 25-metre pool, therapy pools, a triple gymnasium, a fitness centre, multi-purpose rooms and a 45,000 square foot library.

“It’s huge. In 2024 the economic impact to the sport tourism is $70 million,” said Kathleen Trainor, Tourism Barrie executive director, in an interview with CTV News. “That four pad makes a big difference for tournaments and bidding on them to have the four pads all in one spot is a game changer for sport tourism.”

Costs in the upcoming June 11 staff report indicate two scenarios:

• Scenario 1 at $455,803,265 has been considered non-viable due to “increased site programing requirements.”
• Scenario 2 is smaller and expected to cost $375,803,285.

Details on the amenities of the future recreation centre will be discussed at the General Committee meeting Wednesday. A staff report is available now on Legistar.