PRINCE GEORGE – Construction has begun on the City of Prince George’s $4.4 million Masich Place Redevelopment Project, which will install the first outdoor synthetic field in Northern BC, and benefit local and regional sports teams, athletic clubs and associations, and fitness enthusiasts.
The Project will include a new synthetic turf infield meeting FIFA, CFL, and World Rugby regulations – a first for Northern BC. It also includes consolidated jumps area, permanent throwing facilities and cages, track resurfacing, and upgrades such as trail development.
Masich Place has been closed to the public since May 19, 2017. Track and field user groups, including those who enjoy walking the track, have been notified and provided with alternative options for the duration of the closure. Masich Place will reopen to the public in the spring of 2018 as one overall complex encompassing both the stadium and PGSS fields along Massey Drive.
Funding for the project is provided via a $3.2 million investment from the federal Gas Tax Fund, $925,000 from the City of Prince George’s 2017 Capital Expenditure Program, and $250,000 from Northern Development Initiative Trust’s Economic Diversification Infrastructure Program.
The new field will provide many tangible benefits for Prince George and the surrounding region:
- Earlier and later season play when natural turf fields are unavailable or damaged;
- Increased sports tourism with potential for regional, provincial, and national competitions;
- Reduced travel costs and travel time for local and regional sports teams;
- Increased field capacity and revenues associated with over four times the usability of natural turf;
- Regular season play and sport development for groups such as UNBC Soccer, Minor Football, Rugby, and Lacrosse who are currently without an outdoor field agreement; and
- Exterior painting of the grandstand structure.
