Council opted to defer plans to build a clubhouse and new fields to accommodate the growing Bow Valley Rugby Club on April 9.
Members of council emphasized that the decision was in no way to tie the hands of the club, only an extra step where the club would present to the newly-formed parks and recreation committee ahead of any council decision.
“We’re not disappointed with council’s decision to have us go to work with the parks and recreation committee … we are looking at all of our options to promote rugby in the Cochrane area,” said club secretary Jason Lowe.
The club, voted second best rugby club in the province, is currently celebrating moving up to Division 1.
“This season was a big one for us – our Grizzly Senior Men’s team was the Div. 2 provincial champs this year,” said Lowe.
The team was only defeated twice last year.
Council’s recent decision to approve $125,000 out of the parks and recreation levy fund for Cochrane’s pickleball group to build courts, spurred Coun. Tara McFadden to bring forward the motion to form a parks and rec committee to engage with sporting groups in town and clearly identify the needs, ensuring an even playing field.
“I really believe we set that whole committee up for equity,” said Coun. Alex Reed.
The Monday night ask was for council to re-designate the remaining $17,500 of the approved $25,000 budget to fund a detailed design for the “Towers Trail Opportunity.”
A preliminary design on the 16-acre parcel of town-owned lands at the corner of Towers Trail and Rolling Range Drive includes a clubhouse, parking lot, practice field and two game fields, designed to world rugby specifications.
Early estimates for full build-out are $4.5 million and would be done in phases, as funds and grant dollars permit. The town engaged in a geotechnical assessment in January that supported the Towers Trail site as a suitable location for the proposed use.
Coun. Alex Reed asked Lowe whether the club had applied for grants. Lowe said they would like to increase their ability to apply once they have an identified site and a plan in place to build.
“It’s no surprise,” said Mayor Jeff Genung. “There are groups all over town bursting at the seams. It’s a byproduct of our growth … the hard part is it’s going to take time to find space and build facilities.”
Genung said further exploration by the committee would reveal whether the Towers Trail Opportunity was the winning ticket or whether another site, such as the lands currently being annexed north of Heritage Hills from Rocky View County would be better suited. These lands have been identified as partly for a new high school site and the remainder for recreation lands.
Lowe’s presentation highlighted the club’s steady growth and ambition to maintain growth at a minimum of five per cent per year.
Since 2005 the club has had considerable growth. As of 2017, it reached 328 members between its U7 through Senior Men’s and Women’s teams.
The club first presented the Towers Trail Opportunity to town administration last fall.
The club currently practises at Mitford Park.
Learn more or register for the summer 2018 season at bowvalleyrugby.com.
