Rimbey to undertake major recreation upgrades

RIMBEY -- The Town of Rimbey is looking to undertake major recreation upgrades this year. 

This comes as the municipality is requesting an additional $62,932 in funding from Ponoka County to fund what they describe as necessary capital improvements in 2026. Rimbey has $169,617 in a capital maintenance reserve paid by the County as part of their existing ICF agreement, and will fund the remaining contribution from their Town reserve. The total cost of the improvements is $465,100.

The funding would support upgrades to the Town of Rimbey's tennis courts, spray park, pool liner, community centre insulation, and arena roof seams. According to Ponoka County, this 50-50 capital maintenance provision was agreed to in the renewal of their ICF recreation agreement and represents a partnership approach to recreation service delivery.

Speaking at the County's regular council meeting in late February, CAO Peter Hall noted that shared facilities require necessary funding to maintain quality service delivery, and that repairing existing infrastructure is more cost-effective than building new. He also expressed interest in applying the same approach to the Town of Ponoka's recreation negotiations.

The Town of Rimbey's latest funding request will be discussed at Ponoka County's upcoming budget meeting on Mar. 27, 2026.