Friday June 10, 2022 | SOOKE, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
The Community Sport Box in Sooke will officially open on Sunday June 26. This comes on the heels of officially celebrating the 5,000-ft expansion at SEAPARC Leisure Complex last week, and ahead of the official grand opening of the Sooke Library this weekend.
Most community facility event celebrations across the region have been delayed as much as two years, due to the public health restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021.
Public event:
The public is invited to join the festivities at the 2430 Phillips Road location, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Public are invited to join the festivities.
- 4:15 p.m. – Blessing from T’Sou-ke Elder, remarks and ribbon cutting with special guests;
- 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. – Free hot dogs and cupcakes;
- 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. – Draw Prizes;
- 4:45 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. – Games and activities with SEAPARC Recreation Program Leaders;
- 5:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. – (mini) lacrosse game featuring Juan de Fuca Whalers U13 Players; and
- 6:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. – (mini) ball hockey game featuring U9 Sooke Minor Hockey Association Players.
Those attending are encouraged to walk, bike and carpool to the event. Accessible parking and forty parking stalls are available in the temporary parking lot, accessed by the marked laneway off Phillips Road.
Major project:
The Community Sport Box project investment was $1,292,778 ($892,778 Canada Infrastructure Program – Community, Culture, and Recreation Program grant and $400,000 contribution from Sunriver Estates, the District of Sooke and SEAPARC).
The District of Sooke acquired 4 ha (40,000 m²) of parkland in 2015. The subject property, 2430 Phillips Road, is zoned P2 (Community Facilities), located within the Sooke River Watershed, and is accessible from the shared access driveway located at 2448 Phillips Road with Sooke School District #62.
The box will be approximately the size of an indoor hockey rink at 200 feet in length by 60 feet wide. Space for spectators has been incorporated into the site plan.
Consideration has been given to coordinate parking with the neighbouring school site and access via alternative modes of transportation.
The new multi-use sports box recreational facility meets the goals and objectives of Section 4.11 Leisure/Recreational Services and Facilities in the Official Community Plan. The development conforms to the required maximum lot coverage and required setbacks for structures and lands adjacent to residential zones and CD zones as per its current P2 (Community Facilities) zoning.
The District’s recreational partner SEAPARC identified the community need for an outdoor boarded multi-use sports box in their 2015 Strategic Plan.
Some trees will be planted at the site this fall.
===== RELATED:
Premier Horgan is the feature guest at June 26, 2022 Sooke Sport Box opening (June 27, 2022)
