In 2017, the Den Duyf family gifted the parcel of land to the Village of Pemberton for recreation for the benefit of the Village of Pemberton, the SLRD and Lil’wat Nation.
A site concept was developed in partnership with the SLRD and Lil’wat Nation and proposed amenities including two grass soccer fields, two smaller practice fields, one slow pitch field and recreation facilities including an arena, a swimming pool and multi-sport complex.
The concept has since been revised to include an amenity building adjacent to the second FIFA regulation-size soccer field (including washrooms, change rooms, a concession stand, and storage) as well as the replacement of the two smaller practice fields with a Bike Skills Park.
Soccer Field #1
The construction, of the first of the two soccer fields was completed and opened to the community in the Fall of 2019.
This project was made possible through a number of project and funding partners. In 2017, ‘The Ridge at Pemberton’ Developers provided fill and preload for the soccer field from in the form of Community Amenity Contributions (CACs) equaling $508,929, as well as in kind CACs from Sunstone Ridge Development totaling $334,400. In June 2018, the project received $500,000 in funding from the federal Gas Tax Fund (GTF)* via the SLRD Area C, and Area C Amenity Funds. In July 2018, a $300,000 contribution was provided by the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation.
The SLRD and the Village, through the Pemberton Valley Utilities and Services Committee (PVUS), have formally added the Pemberton Soccer Field to the Pemberton and District Recreation Service which establishes a funding framework for the maintenance and upkeep of shared recreation facilities, including the Pemberton & District Community Centre, the Youth and Senior’s Centre, Pemberton Meadows fields, Gates Lake Community Park, and the new soccer field.
*The federal Gas Tax Fund (GTF) is administered by the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) in British Columbia in partnership with the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia.
Soccer Field #2 and Amenity Building
In July 2020, the Village of Pemberton was awarded $3.09 million dollars for the construction of a FIFA regulation-size soccer field (including a water well or pond for irrigation, fencing and lighting), as well as an amenity building with washrooms, change rooms, storage and concession. This funding was provided by the Governments of Canada and British Columbia’s Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) under the Community, Culture, and Recreation Infrastructure Stream (CCRIS).
The total cost of the project is $4,224,405. The Village's share of the funding will come from Village Community Amenity Contributions (CACs), Squamish-Lillooet Regional District contributions, developer contributions and community contributions.
The second soccer field is now complete and open to the public. Site preparation for the amenity building has begun. The amenity building is expected to be completed and open to the public in 2023.
Bike Skills Park
In March 2021, the Village of Pemberton was awarded $974,258 to support the development of a bike skills park. This funding was provided by the Government of British Columbia through the Community Economic Resilience stream of the Community Economic Recovery Infrastructure Program (CERIP).
In partnership with the Pemberton Off-Road Cycling Association (PORCA), an additional $25,000 in funding was secured thanks to the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation.
Community Amenity Contributions in the form of material and construction for this project has also been generously provided by the developers of Sunstone Pemberton and The Ridge.
The Park will include four different zones comprising a pump track, skills park, drop zone and four jump lines with different difficultly ratings so riders can progress as their skill level increases.
The Pemberton Bike Skills Park is expected to be completed and open for public use in Summer 2022.
