Ponoka residents appear to think the new recreation multiplex will be a good fit for their community, as drawings of the building were displayed at the town’s second annual wellness fair on May 17.

The proposed facility, with its new multi-purpose fieldhouse and indoor track, was a hit with Denise Clark, a Ponoka resident of 20 years.

“I think it looks good. It’s pretty exciting for the town to have some new infrastructure come in and I think it’s great for the community to have a bigger, better place to go play and exercise,” Clark said.

According to Kenda Butterfield, a local physiotherapist, Ponoka is due for such a facility.

“When you look at Ponoka compared to Lacombe and some of these smaller (communities) outside Red Deer, we’re one of the last places to have a bigger centre like that. So I think it will be good,” Butterfield said.

Wes Amendt is the town’s director of community services. The question he keeps hearing from people is, ‘When’s it going to happen?’”

The answer will depend on how successful the town is in securing external funding. The first two phases of construction are budgeted at about $16 million.

“They like the idea and seeing that it’s gotten to this design stage has created a lot of positive comments and excitement in the community. Now it’s just a matter of how quickly can we get to a point where (we can) make it a reality,” Amendt said.

He adds the town will be lobbying higher levels of government for funding.

“If they’re going to give it away, we want some of it. We’ve gotten to the point where we’ve got the plans, we’ve got the business case. That’s been put in front of the federal infrastructure minister.

Locally, the town has also seen the creation of the Parks and Recreation and Culture Society, an arms-length organization with a mandate to fundraise for future facilities.