Centre 70 Virtual Open House

Welcome! 

Please join us to learn more about the Kingston Multi‑Site Visioning Project and share your perspectives. 

Look through the information provided at your own pace and explore the different ways to provide input on potential program spaces and experiences. 

This is an opportunity to review project information and identify your priorities. 

Thank you for taking the time to participate and share your thoughts.

The Project

The City of Kingston is launching a major multi-site visioning and recreation facility capital planning project to help guide the future development, renewal, and investment in the following community recreation facilities and sites:

• Centre 70 
• Kingston Memorial Centre 
• Portsmouth Olympic Harbour 

This work is at an early, exploratory stage, focused on understanding priorities, opportunities, and desired experiences across the sites. 

The City is gathering input online and in person through community input sessions, offering multiple ways to share what matters most to you. 

To stay informed of upcoming engagement opportunities, please sign up for updates using the follow project feature on this page.

Timelines, Context and History

1800s - Hatter’s Bay established to serve the Kingston Penitentiary.

1951 - Kingston Memorial Centre and surrounding buildings opened. Outdoor swimming pool, change facility and International Hockey Hall of Fame built on Kingston Memorial Centre site.

1969 - Portsmouth Harbour constructed.

1970 - Centre 70 opened.

1974 - Portsmouth Olympic Harbour refurbished and renamed for the Montreal Summer Games.

1976 - Portsmouth Olympic Harbour served as a venue for the Olympic sailing events. Neighbourhood Sharing Centre opened at Centre 70.

1977 - City signed lease agreement with Fisheries & Oceans Canada to operate marina.

1997 - Kingston Memorial Centre underwent partial renovation.

2007 - Revitalization Plan developed by Kingston Memorial Centre Revitalization Advisory Committee.

2011 -  New outdoor pool and waterpark (Culligan Water Park) opened at Kingston Memorial Centre.

2012 - New Memorial Wall at Kingston Memorial Centre. Kingston Memorial Centre Farmer’s Market opens.

2013 - Lakeside Community Garden established on adjacent lands (access via Centre 70 site).

2017 - Portsmouth Olympic Harbour Opportunities & Constraints Study completed.

2022 - Kingston & Area Community Training Farm opened on land adjacent to Centre 70.

2025 - Multi-sport stadium opportunity at Kingston Memorial Centre. Grandstand at Kingston Memorial Centre closed due to unsafe conditions. Portsmouth Olympic Harbour underwent partial roof replacement.

2026 - Culligan Water Park enclosure under construction at Kingston Memorial Centre. Pipe burst damage closed Centre 70 for winter season. Portsmouth Olympic Harbour underwent partial roof replacement.

Goals, Process and Context

Project Goals

• Establish long-term directions for each site: Vision Statement & Concept Plan
• Inform phased investment strategies
• Guide program and infrastructure priorities

While the focus of the study is to provide direction specific to each site, the City’s broader recreational needs, in particular, demand for ice rinks, sports fields, outdoor recreation amenities and events as they relate to the sites, will also be taken into consideration.

Project Process

The multi-site visioning and capital planning project is structured over two phases:

• Phase 1 focuses on understanding needs and building a shared vision
• Phase 2 translates this vision into concepts and recommendations

Phase 1

Analysis, Site Evaluation & Engagement

(Winter / Spring 2025)

• Background Review
• Facility Needs Assessment
• Engagement Round 1: Discovery & Dialogue: Public Information Centres (PICs); Public Online Survey #1 (Launching April, 2026); Stakeholder Interviews & Focus Groups; Pop-Up Events.
• Site Review, Opportunities & Constraints
• Visioning & Evaluation Framework

Phase 2

Visioning, Concept Design & Capital Planning

(Summer / Fall 2026)

• Site Visioning & Concept Options
• Evaluation & Prioritization
• Preferred Conceptual Designs
• Capital Redevelopment Strategy
• Operational Model and Financial Impact
• Engagement Round 2: Feedback & Validation
• Draft & Final Reporting

Centre 70

Facility Understanding

• Extensive investment would be required for Centre 70 arena to meet modern standards of functionality and condition as a recreation facility.
• Centre 70 arena is utilized for ice user groups and tournament overflow with limited use for non-ice recreational pursuits.

Visioning Approach

• Centre 70 is expected to be phased out as an arena and the development of a new ice pad at an alternative location will be explored as part of the broader visioning and capital planning process.
• The recreation needs (beyond ice) of both the surrounding neighbourhood and the City as a whole will be assessed to guide the future redevelopment of the Centre 70 property, in alignment with community priorities and strategic objectives.

These needs will be considered in the following ways:

• The feasibility of maintaining Centre 70 for non-ice related recreation uses; and
• The potential to accommodate these uses (as determined through the needs assessment) at an alternative site within the Lakeside District.