North Fredericksburgh Sports Complex and Community Centre to get needed facelift

On Tuesday, Mar. 26, 2024, its first regular meeting this spring, the Council of the Town of Greater Napanee heard important news about the upcoming revitalization of a summer hot spot: the North Fredericksburgh Sports Complex and Community Centre.

The complex on County Road 8 is home to well-used soccer pitches and softball diamonds, but the tennis courts have fallen into major disrepair over the last decade. At Tuesday's meeting, Council received news about the much-anticipated court update, which will involve creating two full-size tennis courts and six pickleball courts. Two pickleball courts will be stand-alone courts, while the other four will be overlaid on the tennis courts.

Chris Brown, Facilities Manager with the Town's Community & Corporate Services, published a report in advance of the meeting indicating that, pending Council approval, P&D Sealing and Lines was selected to supply and install acrylic surfacing, as well as court and line painting on the multi-sport court at the complex. Of five companies who submitted tenders, P&D Sealing and Lines proposed a total price of $21,364.51 --- $14,000 less than the next closest competitor.

In his presentation to Council, Brown reiterated the choice of P&D: “Not only because of the price, but they also were able to show some references locally. They've worked with the City of Belleville [and] Loyalist Township, as well as close to home here the NDSS (Napanee District Secondary School) courts that were recently done... In looking at their references, we're confident in their ability... That would be the staff recommendation."

Brown also added that since fencing and asphalt are already in place, resurfacing the court as soon as possible should allow people to play on it this summer.

The motion to follow staff’s recommendation passed with no discussion by Council.

A second report from Andrew Girouard, Deputy Director of Environmental Services and Infrastructure Services for the Town, involved the adjacent North Fredericksburgh Community Centre, also known as the 'Lifestyle Centre' --- and was entitled Community Centre Water System Engineering Evaluation Report.

The report indicates that the centre receives water from the main that conveys raw water into the A.L. Dafoe Water Treatment Plant from the Lake Ontario pumping station. The treatment system at the community centre consists of a carbon filter, a sand filter, a series of woven fabric filters, and an ultraviolet (UV) light.

Because the facility is regularly used for children’s day camps, it is governed under Ontario Regulation 170/03, which states that all such designated facilities that are not provided with municipality-treated water require an Engineering Evaluation Report (EER).

EERs validate that the treatment system meets the requirements of the Procedure for Disinfecting Drinking Water in Ontario. In 2004, an EER was produced for North Fredericksburgh Community Centre, and the water system has continuously provided safe and reliable drinking water to the site since then, according to Girouard’s report.

However, on March 1, 2023, the Ministry of the Environment, Climate Change and Parks (MECP) completed a routine compliance inspection of the water system at the centre. That inspection found that the site's existing EER did not meet the Procedure for Disinfecting Drinking Water requirements in Ontario.

According to Girouard’s report, “Water sample results taken from the centre have continually met the requirements of regulations. There is no current concern for public health.”

The report explains that the system receives raw water with a minimal chlorine residual left over from the pre-chlorination at the Lake Ontario intake, which is used for zebra mussel control. The water system at the centre does not have a continuous chlorine analyzer, nor are operations staff able to adjust chlorine dosages to adequately affect the chlorine residual at the location.

The Inspection Report requires a new EER to be completed to confirm the system meets the requirements of the Procedure for Disinfecting Drinking Water in Ontario. According to Girouard’s report, Town staff believe that switching one of the woven fabric filters to a 1-micron absolute filter would bring it up to compliance.

An EER, produced by a licensed engineer, will be required to confirm this opinion. Staff have requested proposals from several engineering firms to complete the required EER for the North Fredericksburgh Community Centre. Only two proposals were submitted, which staff have evaluated.

Based on the submissions (which are not cited in the report), staff recommended that EVB Engineering be selected to complete the required EER. “EVB [E]ngineering has a long history in the water treatment industry and has successfully completed several projects for the Town in the past. Staff expect that the EER can be completed within a short turnaround time, ensuring that the facility is in compliance with applicable requirements,” the report explains.

Based on information gathered by staff, the EER will cost up to $16,000. The cost to maintain and operate the water system will be known and evaluated once the EER is completed. The associated costs of the EER will come out of the Facilities budget.

Councillor David Pinnell asked if there was a plan in case changing the filter type did not work to bring the system up to compliance.

“Staff have considered lots of options, including looking to find the wells that were on site before that facility hooked up to the water system… Staff feel this is the most appropriate and cost-effective approach," Girouard answered.

"Through my technical background and expertise, and then speaking with some engineers along the way, we feel this change in filter will subsequently get us in compliance."

Deputy Mayor Brian Calver asked if there was an automatic shut-off at the Community Centre should the water not meet the requirements; Girouard said the UV filter would indeed sense any issues and shut down the water flow.

The motion passed to replace the filter as suggested and then order a new EER.

Meetings of the Council of the Town of Greater Napanee can be viewed virtually (

Michelle Dorey Forestell, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Kingstonist.com