Surrey council has approved a contract worth $1,183,226.88 to Willow Spring Construction Ltd. to convert vacant space at the Surrey Sport & Leisure Complex into dedicated multi-purpose and mat rooms aimed largely at wrestling groups.
Scope, budget and timeline
The work will refurbish just over 6,000 square feet of previously vacant second-floor space in the city-owned recreation facility at #100–16555 Fraser Highway. The complex is a 209,056 sq. ft. multi-purpose recreation centre that offers aquatic, fitness and other recreation programs for Surrey residents.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Contract awarded to | Willow Spring Construction Ltd. |
| Contract value | $1,183,226.88 |
| Authorized spending limit | $1,301,550 |
| Renovation area | 6,000+ sq. ft. |
| Expected work period | Late July 2026 to late 2026 |
Programming priorities and community uses
City staff and councillors say the renovated rooms will be scheduled with an emphasis on wrestling during after-school hours to respond to demand from clubs across Surrey. Laurie Cavan, Surrey’s manager of parks, recreation and culture, told council the city has seen significant growth in the sport and sought locations to expand available mat time.
“lots of growth in wrestling and we were looking for opportunities to expand those facilities so yes in the after-school hours wrestling will be a key priority and that will be reflected in the allocation of the time.”
At the same time, officials indicated the rooms will not be reserved exclusively for wrestling. Cavan said daytime and other hours will be used for seniors programs, summer daycamps for children and a range of fitness classes — an attempt to balance weekday daytime community needs with evening and after-school sport demand.
Local context and implications
The redevelopment repurposes underused space within an existing municipal asset rather than building a new facility. For residents this approach can mean faster access to new programming without the multi-year timelines and higher costs associated with new construction.
- Short to medium-term impact: more mat time available for wrestling clubs, particularly for youth after school.
- Community access: seniors programming and daycamps planned during daytime hours.
- Fiscal framing: contract award sits below the council-authorized spending limit of $1.3 million.
Coun. Gordon Hepner, who supported the project, said the move was timely given the limited availability of suitable wrestling facilities in the city and the growing interest in the sport among local residents. The amended schedule will require coordination between the parks, recreation and culture department and community clubs to formalize allocations.
Construction is due to start in late July and finish by late 2026. As with other municipal capital work, residents and user groups will be watching how the city balances booked club time with drop-in and program needs at one of Surrey’s largest recreation hubs.
