Draft:MacBain Community Centre
The MacBain Community Centre is a 100,000 square feet recreation facility in Niagara Falls, Ontario.[1] The community centre has a swimming pool, a walking track, a gymnasium, courts for sports such as pickleball, and several drop-in programs for the local community.[2] A branch of the Niagara Falls Public Library is located within it.[3]
History
[edit]The MacBain community centre opened in 2005 and cost 24 million dollars to build.[4] Its namesake is John McCall MacBain,[5] who donated one million dollars towards its construction.[6] The facility was initially closed during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario, as there was restrictions on in-person gatherings. In 2021, the YMCA vacated the building, leaving it mostly empty. The City of Niagara Falls took over the facility afterwards.[1] In 2024, it budgeted 1.2 million dollars to improve the community centre's emergency infrastructure.[7] From 2020 to 2023, the Niagara Falls Farmer Market was held at the community centre before being temporarily relocated to another location. As of 2025, the market will be held at the community centre again.[8] There is a outside playground and skatepark attached to the facility.[9] In 2024, a wheelchair accessible swing was installed there, and was the first such swing available in the city.[10]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Forsyth, Paul. "'New' MacBain Community Centre welcomes public back in Niagara Falls". Niagara This Week. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
- ^ Spiteri, Ray. "Niagara Falls city council approves new operating plan for MacBain Community Centre". Niagara Falls Review. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
- ^ Langley, Alison. "MacBain centre library branch not impacted by YMCA closure". Niagara Falls Review. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
- ^ Langley, Alison (October 10, 2015). "Ten years and counting for MacBain Community Centre". Niagara Falls Review.
- ^ "City wants to 'simply say thank you' to MacBain". Niagara Falls Review. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
- ^ Blackwell, Richard. "Canadian builds global ad empire". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
- ^ Spiteri, Ray. "Niagara Falls investing $1.2M to make MacBain centre emergency evacuation site". Niagara Falls Review. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
- ^ Spiteri, Ray. "Reverse course: Niagara Falls Farmers Market permanently moving back to MacBain Community Centre". Niagara Falls Review. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
- ^ Spiteri, Ray. "Improvements coming to Niagara Falls skateboard park; officials seeking feedback". Niagara Falls Review. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
- ^ Spiteri, Ray. "Niagara Falls installs its first wheelchair-accessible swing". Niagara Falls Review. Retrieved 26 December 2024.