Sportsplex crowns recreation complex

Balls rumbled and pins clattered at Langford Lanes on Saturday B次元官网网址� music to any bowlerB次元官网网址檚 ears. After a five-year hiatus, 10 pin is back.

Langford officially opened its $14.1-million Sportsplex last weekend, a combination ice arena and bowling centre, which caps off the four year build-out of City Centre Park.

B次元官网网址淩ecreation for families is the No. 1 thing we wanted to do. This is the culmination of that,B次元官网网址� said Langford Mayor Stew Young during a ceremony in Eagle Ridge arena.

Through a series of government grants, corporate and citizen donations, and municipal loans, Langford has expanded Eagle Ridge to include a play area for kids, built two all-weather turf fields B次元官网网址� Bear Mountain stadium and Goudy field B次元官网网址� and capped it off with the Sportsplex.

Announced in early 2008 and backed by a 2005 referendum to expand recreation, 14.5 acre City Centre Park is nearly finished B次元官网网址� only the facilities for the new partnership with Rugby Canada are still under construction.

B次元官网网址淲e started this in a recession. Three years ago it was doom and gloom,B次元官网网址� Young told the crowd and gathered dignitaries. B次元官网网址淭imes are better and times are great in Langford.B次元官网网址�

Young also reiterated LangfordB次元官网网址檚 partnership with the YMCA, announced more than a year ago, to build a new aquatic facility in Westhills. B次元官网网址淲e want to make that a reality in the next three years,B次元官网网址� he said.

On Saturday, crowds toured the Westhills ice arena, which opened Aug. 31, in time for the hockey season. Juan de Fuca minor hockey teams practised and played games, somewhat oblivious to the hoopla. Ice time is like gold to youth hockey.

Westhills arena itself is coined as one of the most energy efficient facilities in North America, as it is designed to reuse 100 per cent of heat expelled by its ice plants.

State-of-the art Langford Lanes bowling centre, with 20 lanes of 10-pin and a lounge, should be fully open to the public in the first week of November. Surrey-based XCalibur Bowling, under the name Planex, has a 20-year contract to operate the centre for Langford.

Manager Tom Joa said the public appetite for bowling has been overwhelming. Indeed, most of the league spots are already filled.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 blown away by the interest,B次元官网网址� Joa said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e at capacity for leagues and have a waiting list.B次元官网网址�

For the first few weeks, Joa said the centre will be working with the bowling leagues for a trial run and to allow them to get a full season in. Trades workers who helped build the Sportsplex are also getting a sneak preview of the facility.

B次元官网网址淏owling is great for the family. Everybody can do it,B次元官网网址� Joa said. B次元官网网址淲e got senior leagues, youth leagues, adult leagues. Anyone can get involved.B次元官网网址�

Check out www.langfordlanes.com for more information.