St. Thomas City Council is being asked to approve an application for provincial funding with the hopes of eventually bringing a massive sports dome to the city. There are two proposed concepts; but the preferred facility would include two small indoor turf fields, convertible court space which could be used for basketball, pickleball and volleyball, a walking track and a support building. The projected cost is $14 million but is estimated to turn a profit as high as $160,000 per year. On Tuesday’s agenda, city staff are asking for the endorsement of a submission of a Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund (CSRIF) application. Should council endorse the application, they would retain Baker Turner Inc. as Prime Consultant to undertake an Implementation Study for the proposed facility at a cost of approximately $91,000. The site would require 2.5 to 3.0 hectares of land and the study would determine whether the preferred concept could fit on the land on the north side of Fire Station No. 2 on Silver Street next to the existing soccer complex at 1 Password Park. In the report to council, Adrienne Lacey Griffin, director of Parks and Recreation details how “The City of St. Thomas is positioned to experience and capitalize on significant residential and economic growth over the coming decades and continues to invest in recreation infrastructure that supports a healthy, active and complete community.” A feasibility report to council March 9, 2026 identified two priority recreation projects including a future community centre; an aquatic centre and an indoor sports dome.That study identified the city would require approximately 2.3 additional indoor turf fields by 2051 and identified an Indoor Sports Dome as a priority project to address the community’s need for year-round indoor field sport opportunities. Applications for the CSRIF are due December 22, 2026 and municipalities can apply for funding of up to 50 per cent of eligible project costs to a maximum provincial contribution of $10 million. While they are asking for an endorsement of the Indoor Sports Dome, they are not currently applying for help with a Community and Aquatic Centre. “Unlike the Indoor Sports Dome proposal, a preferred site has not been identified or secured, and the Council approved feasibility study noted that no municipally owned lands are currently available to accommodate the recommended program,” wrote Griffin. “Given these constraints and the ongoing evaluation of alternative facility models, staff believe a Community and Aquatic Centre application is not sufficiently advanced to support a competitive CSRIF submission during the current intake.”
