A major new recreation campus is officially underway in south Winnipeg, with city and provincial leaders breaking ground on a multi-use facility expected to open in 2028.<\/p>\n
The new South Winnipeg Recreation Campus will include spaces for sports, recreation, fitness, special events, and child care, with the first phase expected to open in early 2028. The campus is being built in the growing Waverley West area on Bison Drive near Frontier Trail.<\/p>\n
Phase 1 plans include gymnasiums, multipurpose rooms, an indoor walking and running track, a fitness area, caf\u00e9, serving kitchen, child care centre, and an outdoor spray pad.<\/p>\n
Investment in growing communities<\/p>\n
Vivian Santos, chair of the Standing Policy Committee on Community Services, said the project is about strengthening communities for the future.<\/p>\n
\u201cCommunity spaces are about more than recreation. They are where people gather, connect, learn, and build a sense of belonging,\u201d Santos said.<\/p>\n
Janice Lukes said the campus is expected to serve more than 120,000 residents in the rapidly growing southwest Winnipeg region.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis open field, shaped through vision, planning, and partnerships, will become a vibrant community hub and gathering place for generations to come,\u201d Lukes said.<\/p>\n
The City of Winnipeg says southwest Winnipeg currently has limited city-operated recreation infrastructure compared to other parts of the city.<\/p>\n
Related Stories<\/p>\n
Child care and education expansion<\/p>\n
Tracy Schmidt said the development will help address the increasing demand for child care in South Winnipeg.<\/p>\n
\u201cSouth Winnipeg is one of the fastest-growing areas in our province, and as more young families choose to build their lives here, the need for child care continues to grow alongside it,\u201d Schmidt said.<\/p>\n
The child care centre is expected to create spaces for 176 children and their families.<\/p>\n
The project also includes an addition to Pembina Trails Collegiate at 50 Frontier Rd. to support vocational programming.<\/p>\n
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Funding and future phases<\/p>\n
Phase 1 of the project carries a total cost of $127.5 million.<\/p>\n
The City of Winnipeg is contributing $49.2 million in capital funding, while the Province of Manitoba is contributing a total of $47.16 million. Federal funding is also supporting the project through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.<\/p>\n
The province is contributing $16.5 million specifically for the vocational wing attached to Pembina Trails Collegiate.<\/p>\n
Preliminary design work for Phase 2 is expected to begin later this year and will focus on developing an aquatic facility.<\/p>\n