LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Why not an indoor water park?

Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 16/11/2022 (672 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Brandon requires a year-round aquatic facility that will not only meet the needs of a diverse range of user groups, but also benefit the Keystone Centre as it seeks to wean itself off the public purse.

I spoke with a city councillor this summer about the issues facing Brandon, and among the many topics that were discussed was the perceived need for a water park.

It was quickly evident that the idea of building an outdoor water park, like the one in Portage la Prairie, was a non-issue with the councillor. He agreed that although it would be very popular, the money put toward a facility that could be used for only three months a year would be much better spent on other projects that the city has its sights on.

On the topic of borrowing money to fund a $30-million wastewater facility and two lift stations for the expansion of Brandon in our southwest corner, the councillor was firmly in the belief that it would be money well spent. He stated that he believed in “development.”

I wonder if we could have a year-round water park and development?

The Keystone Centre is a jewel in our city’s crown that requires constant attention and upgrading. It has many calendar days booked for a lot of its facilities. It has even from time to time turned a profit. It also has a major tenant in the Brandon Wheat Kings. Should they ever leave the Keystone to take up residence in a rink of their own, say one built just outside the city limits in our southwest corner, then the potential to realize a profit, or at best mitigate losses, becomes very problematic. Perhaps another major attraction to the Keystone Centre would be good insurance against such a loss?

What if the City of Brandon were to use the $30 million that would be earmarked for “development,” as seed money to build an indoor water park onto the Keystone Centre? Imagine being at a Wheat Kings game and in between periods wandering across the concourse to look out onto a wave pool and waterslide park full of people happily escaping the February weather. Imagine the tourists that would fill up hotel rooms and spend their dollars travelling to Brandon for a great experience, as opposed to spending all their dollars in other towns nearby. Wouldn’t that be a great development? Perhaps if a multimillion-dollar corporation wanted a lift station bad enough in order to realize a healthy profit in expanding our city, maybe they could fund it themselves? I’m sure the city would be happy to pick up the costs for maintenance and eventual replacement, which it would have to do regardless.

The time has always been right for Brandon to invest in itself, develop the experiences that make our city a great place to live, work and raise a family. The time has always been right to make our best multi-use year-round facility even better. Less demand on the public purse means more money for other projects the city has on its wish list. An indoor water park built onto the Keystone Centre? Perhaps the time is right.

KEVIN CHAMBERS

Brandon