New Whitby Sports Complex Design

*Renderings are conceptual and not an exact representation of the materials or spaces depicted. The design and materiality will change and evolve as the project progresses.

Update - October 26, 2022
We are looking for your feedback on a New Whitby Skatepark and Pump Track Design

The new skatepark and pump track are being planned as part of the future Whitby Sports Complex.

The proposed design concept includes a skatepark with various terrain features (plaza, bowl, etc.) for different skill levels. The design also consists of a pump track – a looped circuit of humps, banks, turns, and other features designed to be ridden by bike and other wheeled sports equipment without pedalling.

View the proposed design concept, learn more and share your feedback at one of two upcoming virtual community engagement sessions:

• COMPLETED - meeting on Wednesday, November 9, from 6 to 7:30 pm
• COMPLETED - meeting on Thursday, November 10, from 6 to 7:30 pm

Couldn't attend one of the engagement sessions? Share your feedback by leaving a comment below until November 18 or watch the recorded November 10 session below. You can also view the Skateboard and Pump Track Presentation.pdf.

Update - October 11, 2022

The Town is currently completing the design phase for the Whitby Sports Complex Project. As part of the design process, the Town is finalizing the new Park Space, which includes the following programs:

• A Multi-Use Artificial Turf Sports Field
• 14 Pickleball Courts
• 3 Basketball Courts
• 3 Tennis Courts
• Outdoor Event Plaza Space
• Children's Playground
• Skateboard Park and Pump Track

The design information and a brief survey on the proposed Park Space will be shared with the community later this fall.

Update - June 1, 2022

More than 9,000 people visited the project page from March 12 to April 2, with over 2,700 having shared their feedback on three possible design concepts for the complex. Feedback collected showed strong support for a flexible, active and connected complex design. Other key highlights of what we heard include:

• 80% of participants strongly agree that sports complexes are a key contributor to a Town's quality of life
• The top three (3) amenity priorities for participants were: outdoor spaces, gymnasium and aquatics
• The top three (3) priorities for use of space in the new complex (over and above providing space for physical activity) were: space to play, space for community events and space to socialize and interact
• Based on the three design concepts presented, participants ranked them in the following order of preference [most preferred (1) to least preferred (3)]: 1 - Concept #2 (Active Plaza), 2 - Concept #1 (Terraced Courts), 3 - Concept #3 (Bridge)

As a result, design revisions presented by Town staff at a Special Council Meeting held on May 31 now being considered as part of the final design concept include:

• new space for outdoor recreational opportunities, such as skating;
• 2 additional pool lanes, with a 2nd-floor spectator viewing area, which would make the Whitby Sports Complex home to the largest pool in Durham Region; and
• a double gymnasium.

As a next step, Town staff will be developing a final design concept for Council approval later this year. If approved, construction on the site could begin as early as Spring 2023.

Update - March 8, 2022

Last night, Whitby Town Council unanimously approved the final design concept for the new Whitby Sports Complex. Construction on the new facility is expected to begin in summer 2023, with the complex anticipated to open in fall 2025.

The concept design was developed based on feedback collected from more than 2,700 people last spring – one of the Town’s largest community engagements to date.

The amenities now anticipated to be part of the future facility include:

• an aquatic centre with a 10-lane pool, separate leisure pool and 2^nd floor spectator viewing area – which will make the Whitby Sports Complex home to the largest pool in Durham Region;
• a double gymnasium, with three-lane indoor walking track;
• a twin-pad arena with 85’ by 190’ ice pads;
• flexible spaces to support community programs, meetings, and arts and cultural activities; and,
• space for outdoor recreational opportunities – such as a pump track and skateboard park; pickleball, tennis and basketball courts; multi-use sports field; and playground and water play area.

Together, these amenities will help to achieve the Town’s vision for the complex: to create a multi-purpose gathering space for inclusive sport and community programming - a place for residents of all ages and abilities to connect, play and get active.

Project Background

We know from the results of our 2020 Community Survey that part of what makes Whitby a great place to live are its world-class sports facilities. To continue to deliver on resident expectations, the Town must continue to invest in maintaining and creating sports facilities, like this new complex.

The need for a new sports facility was identified in the Town's Culture, Parks, Recreation and Open Space Strategic Master Plan as well as the Sports Facility Strategy that was developed based on significant community engagement. Both plans identified amenities that the new sports complex should include meeting the recreational needs of its community. In addition, amenities were selected based on feedback received during a needs assessment with Whitby's sports organizations in 2020.