Recreation Complex - Vision

Nestled along the shores of Lake Erie and the Detroit River, the Town of Amherstburg is one of the oldest settlements in South Western Ontario. With a population of 22,000, Amherstburg is located within the most southern county in Canada — Essex County — and is just 20 kilometers from the US-Canada border.

The Town, with an aging recreation facility infra-structure and increased demand for community recreational programming and ice time, retained Nustadia Recreation Inc. (NRI) to conduct a feasibility study for a proposed twin pad arena/recreation complex. From the feasibility study, Amherstburg Town Council approved a Community Multi-Use Recreation Complex located at Larry Bauer Park at Meloche Road and Simcoe Street in Amherstburg. Council also approved combining the pre-approved Premier and Miracle League Ball Diamond development with this project.

On February 27, 2009, the Town of Amherstburg, through the Federal and Provincial government’s Building Canada Fund, received $15.7 million for the building of the Recreation Complex. The Town of Amherstburg will contribute about $5.86 million towards the total capital costs, and the remaining $2.2 million will come from community fundraising. The overall cost of the project is estimated at $ 24 million.

The facility will promote a healthier community; inclusive sports for persons with special needs; commitment to the additional needs of the current user groups; equal access to programming for women’s groups; opportunities for sports tourism; and growth of recreational and leisure programming.

Families in the Amherstburg and beyond will soon be able to skate, run and cheer at the new Amherstburg Recreation Complex.