Lewis Farms Rec Centre $32M over budget despite cost-cutting efforts

The long-awaited Lewis Farms Recreation Centre will cost $32 million more than expected, despite efforts to bring down the costs.

The long-awaited and reworked Lewis Farms Recreation Centre will cost $32 million more than expected, despite city efforts to trim inflationary costs.

The increase brings the total budget for the project, which has been in the works on and off since 2014, from $311 million to $343 million.

Council learned last month that construction costs were rising due to inflationary pressures and material shortages, but the dollar figure was kept private while contracts were being finalized.

Engineers previously trimmed $90 million by removing features, changing materials and shrinking aquatic and fitness areas after a re-imagination of the new facility post-COVID-19 delays.

Mayor Andrew Knack says this situation, wherein a project is shelved and dusted off multiple times throughout the years, should happen less under the city’s revamped project management system.

“It’s always worth reminding Edmontonians that over 95 per cent of our projects finish on or under budget,” he said Friday.

Ward Nakota Isga Coun. Reed Clarke says he’s toured the Lewis Farms construction site and the new centre will cater less to elite athletes in favour of community needs.

“We had to make a choice. It’s got to get done, and I think at this point now that we approved that budget overage, it’s how do we get that done as efficient, as quick as possible, that stays within that number,” he told reporters Friday.

The facility and surrounding park are expected to open late 2028.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Jeremy Thompson