Work is about to begin on a $5 million upgrade to the Jasper Activity Centre.

“We’ve got grants from federal and provincial levels of government as well as municipal funds, our own, and we are going to build a 5000 sq. ft. fitness addition to the pool,” said Christopher Read, project leader.

Currently, the fitness centre is located in the basement of the Activity Centre. Read says Jasperites have been asking for a new location for many years.

“Everyone has, for the last 20 years, been wanting a fitness centre that inspires you to work out,” said Read.

Ground thawing has begun, so ATCO can move a transformer that currently rests on the construction site.

The new building will be located on the east side of the aquatic centre and is slated to begin development on March 29.

There will be a facility wide power outage on Thursday (March 4).

Read said the new building will include green initiatives such as recycled rubber flooring and a roof which is compatible with solar paneling. Some of the building products will be reused on site as they are needed.

“The roof is slanted at the right angle so - if we find the money - we can put future solar panel installation,” said Read. “That has already been part of the design for the future – green initiative – as they become available to us.”

The entrance to the aquatic centre also will be moved.

Inside the new fitness facility, a new and improved climbing wall will be included said Read.

Read explains his excitement for the new facility is for the community.

“The spirit, and the level of community involvement – that people are always trying to make the place better – it’s inspiring,” he said.

Read says he hopes Jasperites will be understanding of the construction site and any inconveniences the renovation may have on them.

“I know that what we are doing is what the community wants and that is a great feeling,” he said.

Fire Chief Greg Van Tighem, who sits on the Culture and Recreation Board, says a lot of people are looking forward to the new improvements of the fitness centre.

“We get a lot of comments from the public on the board. That is how we represent the culture and recreation by fielding both positive and negative,” said Van Tighem.

“Everything we got so far on improving the fitness centre has been very positive.”

Van Tighem says the equipment in the existing facility is good, but the location is very poor.

“It’s an adequate facility, but it is the atmosphere that is the most negative because there’s no windows, it’s a low ceiling, and you just get that feeling of being in a basement, he said.

“The air is stuffy and it’s crowded.”

Van Tighem says the ideal facility would have a big open space with lots of natural sunlight, and that is what they will end up with.

He also says the new facility may increase membership, as the public would prefer to use a new gym as opposed to a basement.