Residents and officials are celebrating the next phase of construction for Lakeshore’s Atlas Tube Centre.

The new athletic complex officially opened in September 2014. It includes an arena with three ice pads, a gymnasium, a dance studio, an indoor walking track, a library, meeting rooms and a banquet hall.

“We continue to grow and expand our Atlas Tube Centre to meet the needs of our residents,” says Lakeshore mayor Tom Bain. “It gives me great pleasure to say our resident’s long awaited feature - the WFCU Community Pools and Splashpad will be ready summer of 2016.”

The second phase of construction will include an indoor aquatic centre consisting of four-lap lanes, a lazy river, a therapeutic pool and a shallow pool area.

The outside portion will feature a splash pad, soccer fields, recreational courts and a five-kilometre multi-purpose trail for walking, running, cycling and skateboarding will be built.

“Lakeshore’s Atlas Tube Centre will continue to benefit residents and visitors of the area by offering athletic, social and educational programming,” says Essex MP Jeff Watson.

The estimated total project cost is $62 million – the federal and provincial governments have committed $17.3 million each and the town is responsible for the rest.  

The second phase is scheduled to be complete in summer 2016.