H. G. R. Mews Community Centre replacement

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Map showing Mundy Pond area of St. John's

Construction for the new community centre in Mundy Pond Park, to replace the H.G.R. Mews Community Centre, is well underway and is scheduled to be completed in Spring 2024.

Since Fall 2019, staff have been working to advance the design of the new building, incorporating what was heard through the engagement processes in 2018 and 2019.

Check out the visuals in the document library including an updated exterior rendering, the gymnasium with the elevated walking track, and the leisure pool, in addition to the other visuals added throughout the project.

Construction for the new community centre in Mundy Pond Park, to replace the H.G.R. Mews Community Centre, is well underway and is scheduled to be completed in Spring 2024.

Since Fall 2019, staff have been working to advance the design of the new building, incorporating what was heard through the engagement processes in 2018 and 2019.

Check out the visuals in the document library including an updated exterior rendering, the gymnasium with the elevated walking track, and the leisure pool, in addition to the other visuals added throughout the project.

CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.

Check out the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on this page. If you can't find the answer you're looking for, post your question here and a staff person will get back to you as soon as possible.

If you have thoughts about the design you want to provide, please leave them here.

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    Is the new playground at the Mews going to incorporate the Biba game like at the Kenmount Terrace community centre? I personally hope it does not. I am not a fan of the Biba game and Biba sign at the Kenmount Terrace. Several parents including myself have tried out the Biba app and found it required too much screen time to complete activities. We take our kids to the playground to get away from screen time, but now that our kids are aware of the Biba sign, every time they see the sign at the park they whine for our cell phones and screen time. What would be cooler is a sign that has activity ideas that do NOT require a smartphone to complete. For example pictures on the board that correspond with items hidden around the playground or beyond. Kids can have fun running back and forth from the sign to the playground and park looking for mini-signs or natural items. (No sign is fine too. Just please, nothing that requires a smartphone or screen time). (This is my personal opinion. If members of the public disagree, I just ask that people be kind and respectful. It’s okay to not agree on this issue. Some people don’t like Biba and some do, and that’s okay.)

    LS asked over 3 years ago

    Thank you for your comment. Signage for the playground will be limited to the requirements to meet the Canadian Tire Jumpstart  Charities agreement. Biba is currently not a formal part of that arrangement.

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    Will a traffic light be installed at the intersection of Blackler Ave and Mundy Pond Road? Currently speeding is an issue on Blackler Ave, will traffic calming devices be installed on this road?

    Aggie123 asked over 3 years ago

    Currently there is no plan to install traffic lights at the intersection of Mundy Pond Road and Blackler Avenue.  We will be looking at widening Blackler Avenue to facilitate a left hand turning lane at the entrance of the park. 

    In regards to traffic calming measures, this will be evaluated once the facility is open and we have a better understanding of the number of people and vehicular traffic accessing the park. 

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    Will there be a preschool room like at Paul Reynolds? This area of town desperately needs affordable city-run preschool programming. To my knowledge Big Brothers Big Sisters does not offer preschool.

    LS asked over 3 years ago

    Thank you for your question. We will certainly take your suggestion into consideration. We will work with our partners and assess the needs in the community. Most of the spaces in the facility will be shared spaces which will allow for a variety of programs to be offered.

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    I am wondering if there has been any consideration to giving this new facility a green roof? Given the amount of green space that will be built on to accommodate the new building and parking lot, I think this would be a way to compensate for this loss. St. John's, like most municipalities, states that one of its goals is to reduce carbon emissions. A green roof would help reduce heating costs by providing rooftop insulation and also the plants would absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. A green roof would also help absorb water from heavy rains and so reduce runoff into the surrounding area. Many cities now deny building permits for new facilities unless they have green roofs and I would like to see St. John's follow suit in this regard.

    Pat asked over 3 years ago

    Thank you for your question. 

    We have not yet started the detailed design of this facility, and as such, we are unable to comment on what environmentally friendly, sustainable, and climate resilient features will be adopted at present. We do have a mandate to reduce our carbon footprint and to evaluate systems and best practices that will help us to achieve this goal in this new building. We will evaluate a myriad of options as it relates to aligning with our corporate strategic objectives and our plan for increased environmental sustainability and fiscal responsibility.

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    1. Information Request: What is the purpose of the large quantity of office space? For whom is this designed? (I know there are existing offices, I am not sure of the users). 2. The Pool is essentially above-ground. I would think that this increased the capital cost for the concrete design and installation. Is this the case, and what was the reasoning for above-ground? 3. My experience at the Mews currently is that the space for change-rooms and so forth are small, but adequate. These facilities appear to have a significant increase in available space. What information was used to determine current use, and foreseeable use? 4. Will this facility be available to people who wish to use the outdoor space, and then clean-up/ change in that facility, or will those uses be restricted on a pay basis? 5. I am disappointed that the poo,is only 25m. I see that this has been answered. 6. What is the plan for Replacing the Soccer Field - this is a growing sport and the space is universally usable, unlike a baseball diamond. 7. The track is designated for walkers only. Is this deliberate? 8. What are the two "squares" in the pool near the diving board? 9. What are the three objects on the 'left' side of the pool? 10. Please draw comparisons between this facility's amenities and capabilities vs. Old, and vs. Renolds.

    amlsmith asked over 3 years ago

    Thank you for the questions. Responses to each one below.

    1). The City of St. John’s currently leases a number of commercial office spaces across the City. The purpose of the administration space at the new Mews Centre is to consolidate recreation staff currently occupying leased space at other facilities into one location, thus reducing our operational overhead.

    2). The pool is theoretically sitting at grade level in the new building. This concept actually reduced the capital cost from a structural perspective. It allowed for easier grading of the site, improved maintenance access to the pool, and eliminated the requirement for a service elevator in the building to receive goods and services as deliveries can now be received at grade level.

    3). The size and number of washrooms and changerooms required for the new Mews Centre is dictated by a number of factors: building type, occupancy, and code requirements. The new Mews Centre requires a family/inclusive changeroom and individual male and female washrooms to meet end user requirements. The new Centre will also have a leisure pool component which the current facility does not have, so this also impacts the amount of changerooms/washrooms required in the facility.

    4). The new Mews Centre will have two exterior fully accessible washrooms that may be accessed by users of the park. If a user would like to avail of locker space and/or shower amenities, a user fee will have to be paid to gain access to the interior spaces.

    5). The new Mews Centre will have a 6 lane, 25m pool. 

    6). The local soccer community has been engaged through the stakeholder process, and as previously communicated, space to address the needs of the growing soccer community will be accommodated at the nearby Ayre Athletic Grounds. While the soccer field will no longer be available at Mundy Pond Park, there is green space available in the area for patrons to use.

    7). The walking track is not limited in use to just walkers. If a runner would like to use the track, they are able to do so as well. The lanes of the track will be labelled and respectful use signage will be placed in the area to outline track etiquette. 

    8). The two squares are of no significance to the concept. This is just a layer feature of the CAD software used to generate the plan.

    9). The three objects on the left hand side of the pool are for a climbing wall feature that will be incorporated into the deep end of the pool; it will be an inclusive feature that can be used by persons of all ages and abilities.

    10). The new Mews Centre will have similar amenities to those currently available at the existing facility, plus it will have the following new features: 

    • an indoor walking/running track, 
    • a leisure pool that has space for therapeutic aquatic recreation 
    • a splash pad features for younger users, 
    • adequate parking, 
    • increased number of accessible parking stalls, 
    • adequate exterior lighting on the building and parking lot, 
    • enhanced security for patrons of the facility with restricted access, 
    • exterior washrooms for park users, 
    • sidewalks and crosswalks for enhanced pedestrian/cycling safety, 
    • a community garden, 
    • increased green space and landscaping.


    Comparatively speaking, the new Mews Centre is similar from an amenities perspective to Paul Reynolds' Community Centre but on a smaller scale.

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    Are you going to make the new pool 50 meters because that is what is needed to trials?

    Stephanie Daw asked over 3 years ago

    Thank you for your inquiry regarding the new Mews Community Centre project.

    The new Mews Community Centre will not have a 50m pool. Due to the operational and maintenance costs associated with having a 50m pool, the budget does not support the inclusion of a pool this size. 

    In preparing a concept design, the needs of the community as whole must be considered. We have to maximize the number of service offerings within the facility to ensure that we are meeting the requirements of many end user groups. This ultimately results in a well balanced Centre that has something for everyone.

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    Why is there no bike rack? Why is there bike lane going into the building? The current building has a bike rack. We need this. Pedestrians and cyclist need priority here.

    ae asked over 3 years ago

    Thank you for your inquiry regarding the new H.G.R. Mews Community Centre project.

    All of our public recreation facilities have bike racks, and the new Mews Community Centre will have bike racks as well. Pedestrians and cyclists will be given due consideration during detailed design.

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    I'd like to know what consideration has been given to pedestrians accessing the new facility. The design affords significant space to parking and what I'm guessing is a drop off area, but the design cuts off any direct path for people walking (ignoring the trail, as that isn't year round). Given the somewhat long route from the road to the building, will there at least be clear crosswalks to indicate pedestrian right of way? As it stands I expect people walking to cut across the drop off loop vs detouring all the way around. And will the sidewalk along the drive be cleared all winter?

    cstcroix asked over 3 years ago

    Thank you for your inquiry regarding the Mews Community Centre Replacement project.

    Yes, pedestrian access has been considered in the concept plan for the new Mews Community Centre. Once we begin detailed design of the facility, it is anticipated that there will be a widened access from Blackler Avenue to the park. There will be crosswalks placed at appropriate locations to give pedestrians the right of way while on site. Sidewalks will be included and will provide connectivity to existing amenities and new amenities such as the building and the playground. As with most of our recreation facilities, the site will be plowed and the sidewalks cleared for safe passage.

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    Will there be a sauna?

    PabloNavarro asked over 3 years ago

    Thank you for your inquiry regarding the Mews Community Centre Replacement project.

    No, there will not be a sauna. Currently there is provision for a steam room off the main pool deck.

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    Hello, does the new design for the Community Centre take into account the new reality of living with in a Covid-19 world. Room sizes will need to be larger to accommodate same the number of people before the pandemic, as will corridors, washroom etc. Looking forward to hearing thoughts on this.

    Peter Cawthorne asked over 3 years ago

    Thank you for your inquiry regarding the Mews Community Centre Replacement project.

    Currently national building code has not changed with respect to designing buildings for COVID-19. The building will be designed to meet the intent of the end users under current code legislation. It is anticipated that a vaccination will be available at some time in the future which will allow the community to return to normal. Until such time, we will operate this facility per the recommendations of the Chief Medical Officer as we do with all of our other facilities at present.

Page last updated: 11 Jan 2024, 10:34 AM