Langford is planning to sell the North Langford Recreation Centre at Bear Mountain, with a 25-year agreement to keep it for public use.
The deal would see the City of Langford sell the centre, which includes a fitness centre and outdoor pool, for $3,575,000 to Bear Mountain Adventures Ltd., while keeping a 10 per cent discount for Langford residents who use it.
Langford bought the centre in 2014 after Bear Mountain Master Partnership — a separate entity from Bear Mountain Adventures Ltd. — lost its properties due to financial problems.
“We bought it because they were going to look at redeveloping it into something else other than a recreation centre,” said Langford Mayor Stew Young.
“We wanted to make sure we kept it as a recreation centre for that area. “All of Langford used it.”
Now, however, the centre is about 15 years old and needs refurbishment as the population continues to grow on Bear Mountain, said Young, noting Langford typically stays away from running recreational facilities, leaving that to organizations such as the YM/YWCA.
“We didn’t want to put the money in, so we needed a partner.”
He said Bear Mountain Adventures has ideas for the centre, including possible additions such as a second pool and a children’s splash park. The centre would be closed during renovations.
Young said council is excited about the centre’s prospects.
“We just wanted to make sure that we had somebody that would go in there that had at least the knowledge of the area, and make sure that the weight room and all that stuff stayed on,” he said.
“We’re just looking forward to a rebranding and a reopening that includes more amenities and a bigger facility.”
The sale will be put forward for formal approval at Langford’s Sept. 8 council meeting.