• Preliminary designs for a major Leisure Centre expansion were released in advance of Council’s May 6 meeting.
  • A new six-lane, 25-metre pool would help address growing demand for aquatics programming and reduce waitlists.
  • Up to 2,800 square metres of new floor space would be added to the Leisure Centre.
  • Proposed facilities also include expanded universal change rooms, an indoor track, and new recreation spaces.
  • An additional 84 parking spaces would replace Memorial Park green space north of the addition.
  • Estimated capital costs have increased from $24 million to nearly $30 million.
  • Staff are seeking Council approval to pursue federal grant opportunities to offset a portion of the expense.

 

The public will get a detailed look next week at a proposed expansion to Stouffville’s Park Drive Leisure Centre, a project officials say is intended to address excess demand for aquatics and recreation programming while positioning the municipality for future grant opportunities.

Commissioner of Community Services Rob Braid is expected to present the expansion to Council on Wednesday, May 6, outlining a significant addition to the Town’s heavily utilized recreation facility that would include a new competition-ready pool, expanded change room facilities, an indoor walking track, and additional programming space.

The project was announced in 2024, when Mayor Iain Lovatt said the Town needed to have “shovel-ready” plans in place to capitalize on provincial and federal funding opportunities. Council later approved a $1 million capital budget allocation for design work, and Salter Pilon Architecture was retained in July 2025 to develop the plans.

“Since the award of the project design, Staff have been working with the consultant to design an expansion…to meet the Town’s growing population needs and alleviate capacity constraints on the existing amenities,” a Staff report states, adding that opportunities to maximize recreation and programming space have also been explored throughout the process.

Breaking Down the Designs

The newly released concepts would add between 2,300 and 2,800 square metres of floor area to the facility through an expansion at the building’s northwest corner.

Central to the proposal is a new six-lane, 25-metre pool built to competition standards, something the Town’s existing pool cannot accommodate. The current aquatics facility falls short of the standard, limiting Stouffville’s ability to host swim meets and related programming. Also included for consideration is a three-lane alternative, which would provide space for an attached leisure pool.

The report repeatedly references increasing demand for aquatics programming in the community. According to the Town, 234 residents were waitlisted during the spring 2026 recreation season despite 114 swimming classes being offered.

Lovatt previously acknowledged the growing need for expanded aquatic facilities when the project was initially announced. “We needed a second pool in 2006 when my family moved here,” he said at the time.

The proposed designs introduce expanded universal change room facilities aimed at improving accessibility and overall capacity. Plans call for 20 private change stalls and two accessible stalls, while the facility would still be capable of being divided into separate areas.

Materials prepared for Council note the change room design is intended to better accommodate both individuals and families requiring shared space. The area will include “an increased number of private change stalls and showers to help reduce wait times and better accommodate peak periods,” the document adds. “These spaces are fully enclosed to support user privacy and comfort.”

The project also proposes new recreational amenities beyond aquatics. Preliminary designs show approximately 300 square metres of modular court space on a second level above the pool, encircled by an indoor walking and running track. Another 148 square metres of studio space for programming and community use, along with additional washrooms, has also been incorporated into the second-floor layout.

A preliminary site plan shows the Leisure Centre’s northwest parking lot extending west, adding 84 parking spaces at the expense of Memorial Park green space. Plans also include a new entrance and lobby area for the addition, along with washrooms, recreation programming rooms, and viewing space overlooking the proposed pool.

A broader internal reconfiguration of the existing facility is also detailed. The reception desk, lifeguard office, equipment rooms, and change rooms would be relocated to the current pool viewing area, creating a central division between the existing and new aquatic spaces. A new viewing area overlooking the current pool would then replace the existing guard offices.

Finally, the current reception desk area could be converted into a concessions or cafe space, and the relocation of existing change room facilities would create room for an additional multi-purpose area, office space, and staff amenities.

Increasing Costs & New Grant Opportunities 

While the project’s scope has grown during the design process, so too have the projected costs. Initial estimates placed the expansion at roughly $24 million. However, updated estimates now suggest the current concept would require approximately $27.5 million.

With the additional parking, site servicing requirements, and roof integration work likely needed, overall construction cost predictions have increased to nearly $30 million.

Town Staff are now looking toward recently announced grant opportunities to help offset a portion of the expense. They will seek Council authorization to pursue funding through the Federal government’s new Build Communities Strong Fund, a $51 billion infrastructure initiative supporting capital projects across Canada.

According to the report, the program’s Direct Delivery Stream supports projects involving “community infrastructure such as new community and recreational spaces,” as well as larger public facility upgrades. Importantly for Stouffville, projects applying through that stream must be construction-ready within 12 months, a requirement Staff say the Leisure Centre expansion could meet under its current timeline.

Staff also identified a separate Community Stream, administered through the Province, as another possible funding avenue for recreational infrastructure projects. Details surrounding cost-sharing requirements under the new federal program have not yet been finalized, though the Town expects additional information in the coming weeks.

Should senior government funding be secured, the report indicates up to 60% of the Town’s share would be financed through non-growth funding sources such as capital reserves and debt financing. The remainder would be funded through development charges.

“Should the Town’s share be significant, debenture financing may be considered,” the report adds.

Next Steps

Braid’s presentation will provide a preliminary look at the conceptual designs, and residents will have additional opportunities to review the proposal and submit feedback through a dedicated project website launching May 7. Informational display boards will also be installed at the Leisure Centre to introduce visitors to the proposed expansion and direct them to available feedback opportunities.

Salter Pilon Architecture and Town Staff will finalize the design and develop a more accurate cost estimate before moving forward with the preparation of a tender package.

Cover image sourced from the design package being presented to Council on May 6