Arena and Aquatics Complex

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Conceptual rendering of new arena


Project Update

A groundbreaking ceremony to officially mark the start of construction on the new community centre that will include a twin-pad arena and a Peterborough Public Library branch at Lansdowne and Park streets was held on Thursday, December 8, 2022.

In September 2022 the project team announced that construction on the new community centre that will include a twin-pad arena and Peterborough Public Library branch will start within the next two weeks at the southeast corner of Lansdowne and Park streets. The media release can be seen at https://www.peterborough.ca/en/news/construction-to-begin-on-the-new-community-centre.aspx the project in anticipated to be complete by fall 2024.

On April 6, 2022 a public engagement session was held. An In-person “Open House” style viewing of project display boards where the community was invited to drop in was held between noon and 4 p.m. followed by a virtual Public Information Session, with participation online or by phone, between 6:30 p.m. and 8.00 p.m. The Public Information Session included a presentation from the project consulting team, Perkins + Will Architects, with a project update and site plan design details. The display boards and the presentation are posted in the Project Documents section.


Planned Facility Amenities

The design includes the following program elements:

Phase 1:

  • A twin pad arena with 500 seats on each pad;
  • An elevated walking/running track;
  • 12 team change rooms and 2 official rooms;
  • A team training area;
  • Office / Administration / Customer Service space for City staff;
  • Office leased space;
  • A concession area;
  • Two multipurpose rooms;
  • Public washrooms, elevator and storage;
  • Landscaping and parking;
  • Library branch space (added to the program in January 2022)

Planned future Phase 2 - Competitive 25 metre, 8 lane pool, warm up therapy pool and changerooms.


Project Background

The City of Peterborough is planning to build a Community Arena and Aquatics Complex to meet the immediate and future recreational needs of our growing community. As a recreational hub, it will include a new twin-pad arena and indoor walking track with a future phase for an aquatic centre, combining spaces for play, spectating, fitness and sports. Supporting recreational opportunities through this new building and associated upgraded park space will enhance the quality of life for those who live and play in the city.

On November 9, 2021 the Arena Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee received an update on the project progress. The report and presentation are posted in the Projects Documents section. Highlights on the presentation show the site as it develops in Phase 1 and Phase 2 in preparation for a Site Plan Application in 2022

City Council approved Morrow Park as the location for the City's new Community Arena and Aquatics Complex on Monday, July 26, 2021. The staff report and presentation are posted in the Project Documents section of the project page.

Community Participation

On April 6, 2022 a public engagement session was held. The display boards and the presentation are posted in the Project Documents section.
“Our-long anticipated new community centre is well underway with plans for ‘shovels in the ground’ this autumn. We are hosting a public information session to share the design and seek feedback from the community and our user groups on the site plan,” said Councillor Lesley Parnell, chair of City Council’s Arena, Parks and Recreation portfolio. “The design now also includes a new unanimously approved by Council library branch within the same building/footprint. Come out and see the design.”

The community has been providing feedback on the development of this project since 2013 and helping to shape the design and building amenities via community forums, user group workshops and surveys. A dedicated website project page has been updated regularly with project related information and progress. The current connect project page has generated approximately 6,300 page views from about 2,400 visitors.

In April 2021 the community were invited to share their feedback on the project. The survey received 374 responses providing feedback on anticipated user age groups and travel patterns for the overall site facilities, preferences for use of the outdoor spaces and community response to sustainability feature options. 80% of the respondents where in favour of Morrow Park as the location.

A virtual public information session was held on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. See the slide presentation with the interactive mentimeter results under Project Documents to the right.

Environmental Sustainability

To align with Council’s strategic vision on climate change, Council have endorsed the project to pursue environmental sustainability initiatives in line with LEED construction standards.



Project Update

A groundbreaking ceremony to officially mark the start of construction on the new community centre that will include a twin-pad arena and a Peterborough Public Library branch at Lansdowne and Park streets was held on Thursday, December 8, 2022.

In September 2022 the project team announced that construction on the new community centre that will include a twin-pad arena and Peterborough Public Library branch will start within the next two weeks at the southeast corner of Lansdowne and Park streets. The media release can be seen at https://www.peterborough.ca/en/news/construction-to-begin-on-the-new-community-centre.aspx the project in anticipated to be complete by fall 2024.

On April 6, 2022 a public engagement session was held. An In-person “Open House” style viewing of project display boards where the community was invited to drop in was held between noon and 4 p.m. followed by a virtual Public Information Session, with participation online or by phone, between 6:30 p.m. and 8.00 p.m. The Public Information Session included a presentation from the project consulting team, Perkins + Will Architects, with a project update and site plan design details. The display boards and the presentation are posted in the Project Documents section.


Planned Facility Amenities

The design includes the following program elements:

Phase 1:

  • A twin pad arena with 500 seats on each pad;
  • An elevated walking/running track;
  • 12 team change rooms and 2 official rooms;
  • A team training area;
  • Office / Administration / Customer Service space for City staff;
  • Office leased space;
  • A concession area;
  • Two multipurpose rooms;
  • Public washrooms, elevator and storage;
  • Landscaping and parking;
  • Library branch space (added to the program in January 2022)

Planned future Phase 2 - Competitive 25 metre, 8 lane pool, warm up therapy pool and changerooms.


Project Background

The City of Peterborough is planning to build a Community Arena and Aquatics Complex to meet the immediate and future recreational needs of our growing community. As a recreational hub, it will include a new twin-pad arena and indoor walking track with a future phase for an aquatic centre, combining spaces for play, spectating, fitness and sports. Supporting recreational opportunities through this new building and associated upgraded park space will enhance the quality of life for those who live and play in the city.

On November 9, 2021 the Arena Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee received an update on the project progress. The report and presentation are posted in the Projects Documents section. Highlights on the presentation show the site as it develops in Phase 1 and Phase 2 in preparation for a Site Plan Application in 2022

City Council approved Morrow Park as the location for the City's new Community Arena and Aquatics Complex on Monday, July 26, 2021. The staff report and presentation are posted in the Project Documents section of the project page.

Community Participation

On April 6, 2022 a public engagement session was held. The display boards and the presentation are posted in the Project Documents section.
“Our-long anticipated new community centre is well underway with plans for ‘shovels in the ground’ this autumn. We are hosting a public information session to share the design and seek feedback from the community and our user groups on the site plan,” said Councillor Lesley Parnell, chair of City Council’s Arena, Parks and Recreation portfolio. “The design now also includes a new unanimously approved by Council library branch within the same building/footprint. Come out and see the design.”

The community has been providing feedback on the development of this project since 2013 and helping to shape the design and building amenities via community forums, user group workshops and surveys. A dedicated website project page has been updated regularly with project related information and progress. The current connect project page has generated approximately 6,300 page views from about 2,400 visitors.

In April 2021 the community were invited to share their feedback on the project. The survey received 374 responses providing feedback on anticipated user age groups and travel patterns for the overall site facilities, preferences for use of the outdoor spaces and community response to sustainability feature options. 80% of the respondents where in favour of Morrow Park as the location.

A virtual public information session was held on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. See the slide presentation with the interactive mentimeter results under Project Documents to the right.

Environmental Sustainability

To align with Council’s strategic vision on climate change, Council have endorsed the project to pursue environmental sustainability initiatives in line with LEED construction standards.


CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.
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    Will there be an adult size change table in the handicap washroom to accommodate my 10 year old grandson who has severe cerebral palsy so our whole family can enjoy events? We are often limited in where we can attend events because his needs are not met.

    KathyM asked over 1 year ago

    The design for accessible washrooms allows for the inclusion of adult change tables within select areas of the facility.  The installation of the adult change tables is not included in the base cost of the project but we are making a separate request for additional funding to include these amenities in our facility.  

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    What is the justification to place a library branch 2km from the main library in a city of 56 sq km? Would investing in the pool phase or another athletic components not have made more sense?

    Section31 asked over 1 year ago

    Thank you for your interest in our project.  The Phase 2 Aquatics Complex has not yet been approved by Council to proceed but continues to be included in the overall master design and planning.   

    The space allocated for a Library branch in the new Complex is approximately 5000 square feet. The Library’s 2014 feasibility study recognized the need for the replacement of the DelaFosse branch, as well as an expansion of Library services as the city’s population grew.  This study, as well as subsequent community feedback since then, also indicates that many residents do not wish to come downtown to visit the Library and over the years there have been requests for branches to be located in various neighbourhoods outside of the downtown.  The Ontario Public Library Guidelines suggest that there should be an average of 1.25 square feet of Library space for every person within a community. Peterborough falls significantly short of that, with one branch location measuring just over 28,000 square feet. Given Peterborough’s geographical size and areas of population density, it is likely that any library branch would be within 5-25kms of the Main Branch. 

    The library branch addition to the Complex was approved as a replacement for the closed DelaFosse branch. While it is geographically close to the downtown Main Library Branch, it is also only a few blocks away from the former DelaFosse branch. This close proximity to the former library branch provides benefits to the residents in this area as well as to the full community, since it will be located within a multi-use facility, which increases the potential usage by all those visiting the Complex. 

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    I'm wondering if you can clarify for me the intended usage for the aquatic facility that is to be built in Phase 2 of the arena project at Morrow Park.

    over 1 year ago

    Funding for the planned future Phase 2 - Competitive 25 metre, 8 lane pool, warm up therapy pool and changerooms has not yet been confirmed and operating details for the aquatics complex have not been finalized but anticipated to be a mix of community use and facility rentals.   

    The design of the aquatics complex is a result of consultation with local swim clubs and regulatory requirements to ensure the design included the capacity to host regional meets and competitions.  From the early planning stages of the complex, operations of the proposed aquatics complex described in a 2015 Council report stated the clear intention that the facility be joint community and competitive use. Further detail on Phase 2 will be presented to Council at a future date once funding opportunities are available.  

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    Why is the City of Peterborough ignoring or circumventing the 1984 legally binding trust agreement outlining how the Morrow Park is to be used?

    Stan Olthuis asked almost 2 years ago

    The use of Morrow Park for the Arena and Aquatics Complex is a use for park and recreation purposes and is consistent with the Morrow Park transfer agreement.

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    This is a follow up question re: truck and heavy vehicle traffic as my question was not addressed below. What will be the mitigation measures in place to prevent heavy truck and construction equipment traffic (with associated noise, health, dust, vibration impacts) on residential side streets? 2+ years of heavy equipment driving up and down local streets will have a significant impact on residents. Typically projects have a plan or designated routes for these vehicles. Can you please advise as to the conditions that will be placed on the contractor to mitigate these impacts? I note that in other areas of the city heavy construction traffic has been barred from residential streets (e.g. Bonaccord st.)

    jcornfield asked almost 2 years ago

    The General Contractor will be responsible for the Traffic Control Plan and associated Road Occupancy Permissions. These will be implemented as required during the project duration, approvals for Road Occupancy Permissions will be via the City of Peterborough’s Traffic Department. The General Contractor will also adhere to the City’s half load Restrictions as applicable within the project schedule to protect the road condition. The site has access from Lansdowne Street West which is classified as a high-capacity arterial road and Park Street South which is classified as a high-capacity collector. These two roads would be considered the primary designated travel access to the site. We do not anticipate any traffic on side streets for this project. All parking activity for the contractors will be on site.

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    This is a follow up question re: Noise. You note below that project will be subject to Chapter 691 Noise bylaw. This is a citizen initiated bylaw. Does this mean residents will need to call bylaw or policy for each noise issue at the site? Won't there be a noise mitigation plan that proactively sets out levels of noise, working hours, etc. and advises residents what to expect? Parks Canada has been working at Lock 19 for almost 3 years and provided a details noise plan and updates to residents. Will the City require the contractor to provide the same level of consideration for citizens on this project?

    jcornfield asked almost 2 years ago

    The Noise By-law sets out the working hours for construction activities. The General Contractor will adhere to these hours. A noise mitigation plan beyond the By-law is not required as the construction activities that will take place on this site fall within the defined terms of the By-law.

    Parks Canada provided a noise plan as their activities fell outside the hours of the municipal by-law and the nature of the project work included activities that generate heavy construction noise. While Parks Canada is not required to adhere to municipal bylaws for construction noise, contractors on other Parks Canada projects on the Trent-Severn and its reservoirs have been instructed to adhere to local bylaws and provincial regulations in principle.

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    What happens to the exhibition? And other outdoor events we used to host in this space? (Monster trucks, demolition derby, RCMP musical ride, etc). We used to have family fun events like this.

    Ka asked almost 2 years ago

    The Agricultural Society operates the Exhibition and is an important stakeholder in this project and communication is ongoing. Motorized events have not been permitted in Morrow Park since 2015.  The Agricultural Society has been participating in the consultation process based on Council’s approved recommendations.  Concept plans continue to support the presence and activities of the Agricultural Society on the property.

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    What happens with the Pete's? Do they continue to use the memorial centre? What happens with the overflow parking space by the gymnastics building? This parking is heavily used during the market and events at the memorial centre.

    Ka asked almost 2 years ago

    The Peterborough Memorial Centre, Morrow Parking Lot, Morrow Building, Bicentennial Building (Gym Club) and west-side parking lots are to remain unchanged and are not part of the new Arena and Aquatics Complex project.

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    I am wondering how non binary and transgender individuals and groups have been included in the consultation and project design for phase 1 and phase 2

    Robert Gibson asked almost 2 years ago

    Detailed design for Phase 1 Arena Complex is in progress and community consultation has been inclusive of all user groups and interested community members throughout the project development process.  The plan is for the complex to have a combination of universal, non-gendered and gendered washroom and dressing rooms available.

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    Sorry we could not ask questions during the session due to bedtimes for our children. We will summarize our questions below: 1. Will the ball field be lit? Will the lights be on a timer or be of a type that will not light up the whole sky? 2. Will there be fencing or additional trees/plants planted along southern edge of parking lot to assist in buffering noise and lights from the parking lot? We note and appreciate that the building is close to the intersection, however most of the “comings and going’s” will be felt in the parking lot 6 am to midnight. Every day. Parking lots can be very echoey. 3. Will the limestone path be used as part of the parking lot or is it physically separated and intended only for pedestrian access and occasional access for the barns? 4. It is challenging to tell from the scale of the plans shown but will there be a separate physical separation for pedestrians to be able to access the facility from Park street/ south end. It appears from the plan that we would have to cross via green islands in the parking lot? Thank you

    Ian Gilbertson asked almost 2 years ago

    1. The existing eastern ball diamond will remain in its current state with no addition of lighting planned at this time.  2. The southern edge of the property will remain in its current state during Phase 1 of the project.  The main parking lot will incorporate parking island planting beds with trees, underplanted with perennials to assist with buffering traffic noise.  For the future Phase 2 Aquatics Complex, parking will be expanded along the south of the site, leaving greenspace along the edge of the property line with plantings to be confirmed.  The arena and aquatics complex site will have LED parking lot lighting with any perimeter lighting being designed with zero cut off at the edges to avoid any potential light spill into neighbouring locations.  3. No, the limestone path will not be used as part of the parking lot and it will remain separated from the Phase 1 parking area.  The existing limestone path will continue to provide occasional pedestrian and vehicle access to the current sheds.  4. There is an identified pedestrian concrete path that clearly identifies a safe travel route to the facility from the south edge of the site to the main south-east facility entrance.

Page last updated: 08 Mar 2023, 11:13 AM