Forget about shopping until you drop in an area of Edmonton better known for its big-box stores.

The man behind a proposed new 3.3-acre multi-use community centre would rather see you spending your time staying physically fit.

"My bigger passion is for the ability that youth and families have to use the game of basketball as a vehicle for staying physically fit and providing positive life experiences through that sport," David Dorward said of the GO Community Centre, which will be located near a part of Edmonton that has become synonymous with big-box shopping.

Basketball, volleyball and gymnastics will take centre stage in this new development. The $18.5-million venture, slated to go into the southside John Fry Park at 9700 28 Ave., will include nine full-sized basketball courts, occupying 77,000 sq. ft., eight full-sized volleyball courts that will take up another 35,000 sq. ft. and a 25,000-sq.-ft. state-of-the-art gymnastics area.

Jack Dagley, Business Edge
David Dorward proudly displays the illustration of the multi-use, sport-themed GO Community Centre he hopes to build.

The project will also include 30,000 sq. ft. of common space featuring a fitness centre, locker rooms, daycare facilities, community meeting rooms, offices, a full-service lounge and food/beverage areas.

Dorward, who spends his days as a chartered accountant at Dorward & Company, is passionate about sports. He came up with the original concept for the centre, although plans have evolved over time.

"I started it by myself, but it's grown from there," he said in reference to his 25-year history in Edmonton basketball circles. "I put aside everything else I was doing to concentrate on getting this building off the ground and finding the right partners to work with us." Those partners are three prominent community organizations, which will each have a significant role in the operation's future.

The Edmonton Grads - a famous women's basketball team that played internationally between 1915 and 1940 and wound up with an impressive record of 502 wins in 515 games - will run the centre's basketball side; the Alberta Volleyball Association will oversee the volleyball component; and the Ortona Gymnastics Club, with a 30-year history of providing grassroots and competitive gymnastics programming, will take charge of the centre's gym facilities.

However, the development is still far from completion.

While an opening date of fall 2007 is targeted, the project ultimately depends on a $20-million fund-raising campaign - $18.5 million for the centre's construction and $1.5 million to be used as an endowment fund.

Financial support is being sought from the public and private sectors, along with government. To date, $1 million has been raised, primarily from user groups that will be in the building.

A major fund-raising dinner and gala is scheduled to be held Feb. 26, with tickets fetching $150 to $250 a seat for the 1,200-person event. The $250 tickets will get guests into a special reception with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, a retired NBA player and author. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster.

Construction is not slated to begin until enough money is in hand.

Preliminary architectural designs create a modern, active look for the project. The building's main shape is elongated, due in large part to the dimensions of the land donated by the City of Edmonton.

A striking front entrance has been designed to convey the energy that will be created inside. "The GO people were looking for an active feel and wanted to see excitement (in the exterior design)," said Peter Osborne of Stantec Architecture Ltd.

"For now, we focused on the main entrance as the architectural feature. The canopy has a dynamic form and shape and a sense of movement to it, and tries to bring the three partners together," said Osborne, designer of the building and an intern architect with Stantec.

As the project is still in its early stages, these designs could change. But the focus has been on integrating the building into the community and promoting an active lifestyle, Osborne added.

"The majority of the building will be a pre-engineered structure, with an open transparent entrance with glass and another contrasting highlight material," said Osborne. "It's not necessarily what it will be, but a flavour of what it could be." Inside, the structure's central spine is shaped like a capital L and will host the facility's services. The second level will be a mezzanine rather than a full second storey, allowing parents to watch their children playing basketball, volleyball or engaging in gymnastics.

Outside, the three parking areas will accommodate about 250 cars and a separate area for buses.

The centre is also easily accessible from major arteries and linked to public transportation, an important factor in the choice of the 11-acre parcel of land, added Dorward.

(Laura Severs can be reached at laura@businessedge.ca)