BRACEBRIDGE WORKS ON ARENA/LIBRARY TO BE SHOVEL-READY

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

BRACEBRIDGE — With no money, no partners and no players, Bracebridge continues to work on the development of a new multiuse community centre (MUCC).

And be shovel-ready when provincial and federal pandemic infrastructure spending trickles down to municipalities.

Back in September council approved the design by MacLennan Jaunkalns Miller Architects (MJMA).

They say in a release Friday that “despite uncertainty of future opportunities for funding from upper levels of government, and in order to keep the project moving forward, the town has committed to completing the overall design and construction documents.”

Architects prepared three tender packages for it to be built in three phase:

  • Phase 1 arena, lobby, community hall and site works;
  • Phase 2 library;
  • Phase 3 field house.

The town says when the construction contract has been completed by MJMA, and if there is no new provincial or federal government funding for the construction of the MUCC, a construction tender will be issued for phase 1.

In anticipation of the construction tender being released in April, 2021, the town issued a request for prequalification for general contractor services Oct. 8.

Twelve proposals were received and after review four bidders were invited to participate in the upcoming construction tender for phase 1.

They are Aquicon Construction; Ball Construction; Fortis Construction Group; and Graham Construction.

When all the phases of the new MUCC are complete, it will house a single pad arena, community hall, public library, multi-use field house, concession/café, outdoor playground, trails and open spaces.

At the same time, to meet future community needs, an area for a second ice pad is being retained as part of the plan.

“This is another significant step forward in making this project a reality,” said Bracebridge Mayor Graydon Smith. “As we move towards construction tendering we are getting ever closer to the finish line on a project that will be transformative for our community and all of Muskoka.”

Bracebridge has narrowed to four the list of companies to bid on building the three phases of the MUCC – the arena-community hall, library and field house. (MJMA architectural rendering)

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