Ontario Construction News staff writer
The City of Kingston and the YMCA of Eastern Ontario are set to kick off an impressive $102-million recreational expansion, marking a significant change in the city’s infrastructure.
This initiative, named the “Centre of Community,” will enhance the current Invista Centre at 1350 Gardiners Rd. The main feature of this project is a new competitive 25-metre, 10-lane aquatics facility, along with a leisure pool and a full wellness centre.
A report from City of Kingston staff presented to council in late 2025 indicates that the capital cost for this project is estimated at $102 million based on 2024 values. Funding will come from various sources, including municipal debt, grants, the Municipal Accommodation Tax, and contributions from the YMCA through fundraising efforts.
The construction schedule has been expedited since CS& P Architects was appointed as the lead consultant in March 2025. The firm was chosen through a competitive bidding process to oversee both conceptual and schematic design phases.
Plans currently include building a new fitness wing while repurposing existing fitness areas within the Invista Centre for use by a third-party wellness operator.
“Following a detailed and competitive procurement process, CS& P was retained… work is being accelerated in preparation for a potential construction start in 2027,” stated Neil Carbone, Commissioner of Corporate Services, in a recent report to council.
While the West End expansion aims to offer state-of-the-art facilities, it has raised concerns among residents living near the current YMCA branch on Wright Crescent. The “Centre of Community” model essentially relocates YMCA’s main operations, which will lead to closing down the older building on Wright Crescent.
Local residents have expressed their worries about losing a walkable community hub and how it will affect seniors and low-income families who depend on that central location.
“The YMCA is thinning out its ranks… this decision brings us one step closer to building a new centrally located facility,” noted Rob Adams, CEO of YMCA of Eastern Ontario during previous discussions about restructuring. However, moving to the Invista site represents a shift from earlier plans for another “central” location near Princess Street.
The city has tried addressing these concerns by suggesting creating a new parkette at the southeast corner of Wright Crescent. This smaller project will feature play equipment and landscaping to ensure some public utility remains on lands owned by Kingston & Frontenac Housing Corporation (KFHC).
The YMCA project leads an overall surge in recreational construction across Kingston. Other ongoing and upcoming projects include:
Grenadier Park Court improvements: Renovation of tennis and basketball courts along with adding five new pickleball courts, with construction scheduled for 2026. Cataraqui West Community Park: A development spanning 14 acres featuring a splash pad and multi-use courts expected to finish by 2027. Confederation Basin Promenade: A significant shoreline restoration project currently under detailed design with completion targeted for 2028.
For Ontario’s construction sector, the Invista expansion stands out as one of the largest institutional tenders anticipated in coming years. The city has already earmarked $3 million from its municipal capital reserve fund for initial design efforts.
The mayor’s direction for Budget 2026 has instructed staff to prepare for issuing debt to support groundbreaking activities planned for 2027 along with releasing more Request for Proposals (RFPs) in late 2026.
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