Council approves study on future use of Exhibition pavilions

Lethbridge City Council voted in favour of approving a feasibility study to look into whether the main pavilions of Exhibition Park can be used for recreational use instead of being torn down.

A total of $50,000 will be given to conduct the study. Councillor Ryan Parker brought forward the motion.

Councillors on both sides of the table told us their opinion on the matter.

“There is a huge demand for indoor recreational facilities. More than just pickleball, but everything from pickleball to volleyball to indoor soccer. And actually, I do believe those facilities were used for soccer back in the day and other things. It could be tennis, it could be an indoor walking track. So I think there’s a huge need,” says Parker.

Councillor Jeff Carlson was is disagreement with the funding for the study, “I think we can get halfway there just using the expertise we have here on staff to sort of understand if it is a good idea to even spend $50,000. I would just hate to throw away if administration could spend an hour or two and say, you know, once we open it up, there’s going to be asbestos, there’s going to be codes, they’re going to be all the electrical. Then we have to do a contract to someone to operate it.”

The CEO of the Lethbridge and District Exhibition, Mike Warkentin, has previously told council that if the pavilions weren’t taken down they would cause tremendous strain on parking for the new Agri-Food Hub and Trade Centre.