The Barrington RecPlex is officially opening its doors to the community after a construction process that took significantly longer than originally expected.
The nearly $9 million facility is now ready to welcome residents and visitors, marking a major milestone for recreation services in the Municipality of Barrington.
The new RecPlex features a variety of amenities, including activity rooms, an indoor walking track, and access to public swimming programs. Municipal officials say the expanded space will provide new opportunities for recreation, fitness, and community events.
To coincide with the opening, the facility is launching a new membership program. Staff say the memberships have been designed to remain affordable for individuals and families while providing access to a range of programs and services.
Community members are invited to take part in the grand opening festivities on Wednesday afternoon. The celebration will include a ribbon-cutting ceremony and guided tours beginning at 2:30 p.m., offering residents a first look at the new facility and its amenities.
The Barrington RecPlex will finally celebrate its grand opening.
The nearly $9 million project was announced in 2024, and was originally supposed to be completed in the summer of 2025. In a previous interview with Acadia News, Warden Shaun Hatfield called the process “frustrating and embarrassing”.
Now, members of the community are invited to join for the centre’s grand opening on Aug. 5 at 2:30 p.m..
The event will be held at the RecPlex, and will have guided tours of the new space, a ribbon cutting ceremony, special programming, displays of the RecPlex’s journey, refreshments and the unveiling of their new “Recreation Lobster Sculpture”, painted by local artist Kim Smerek.
Director of Recreation for the Municipality of Barrington Misty James said she’s excited and relieved to see the work finally finished.
“It’s a new structure completely,” said James. “It’s unlike anything we’ve had before, or is even available in all of Southwest Nova Scotia.”
The new facility will feature a fully accessible building, a program kitchen, updated spectator viewing areas, community meeting spaces, a 4,000 square-foot multi-purpose room, activity spaces and a walking-running track.
With the new spaces being available, James said the centre will be moving to a membership style payment system.
Daily, monthly and yearly passes are available, with different rates for youths, students, seniors, adults and full family passes.
Youth rates are $50 annually, $10 monthly or $2 a day.
Student rates are $75 annually, $12 monthly or $3 a day.
Senior rates are $60 annually, $12 monthly or $3 a day.
Adult rates are $120 annually, $20 monthly or $5 a day.
Family rates are $180 annually, $25 monthly or $10 a day.
According to the Municipality’s website, memberships include access to all activity and program rooms during open times, free equipment loans, full access to the walking track, access to public swims and skates and access to drop-in programming.
A new recreation facility is moving ahead on Saint John’s east side, with construction expected to begin next year beside the YMCA Field House.
The Saint John Multipurpose Recreational Facility will include two ice surfaces, a new library, community support space, and additional rooms for arts, culture and recreation.
The expansion will connect directly to the Field House and share an integrated heating and cooling system to support the city’s net‑zero emissions goals.
City staff first outlined the concept publicly in 2024, noting the need to replace aging single‑pad arenas and relocate the East Branch Library.
At the time, officials said the east side was an ideal location due to nearby amenities, transit access and existing infrastructure.
The project will include the city’s first new ice rinks in 33 years.
The federal government is providing $29,825,732 through the Build Communities Strong Fund, and the City of Saint John is contributing $20 million.
The project was submitted under the fund’s Direct Delivery stream, which supports regionally significant infrastructure.
Saint John-Kennebecasis MP Wayne Long said the funding will support a project the city has identified as a top priority.
“It’s one of the biggest actual infrastructure announcements I’ve done in my 11 years here as a member of parliament. It’s significant. It’s going to be transformational for the region,” Long said.
Saint John-Kennebecasis MP Wayne Long speaks during the announcement of the new $49‑million recreation facility. Photo: Alex Allan | Acadia Broadcasting
Long explained that the funding will be delivered directly to the municipality, with only minor administrative steps remaining.
He said residents should expect early site preparation this fall and full construction to begin next year.
Community impact and next steps
YMCA Saint John CEO Shilo Boucher said the expansion reflects what families across the east side and nearby communities have been asking for.
“I think the east side gets left out sometimes, and it’s a great connector between the different communities too, such as Rothesay and Quispamsis and Hampton.
She said community feedback has consistently pointed to a need for more recreation access on the east side.
“From this community we’ve heard it. We’ve done community surveys, and it shows that there’s definitely a gap in the east side that we’re going to fulfill.”
Boucher said the YMCA has completed schematic design work and is now moving into final design.
The construction contract has already been tendered, and the organization is preparing for a capital campaign that includes reconnecting with past donors.
Project layout and design drawings
Drawing of the site plan 1. Photo: Alex Allan | Acadia BroadcastingDrawing of the site plan 2. Photo: Alex Allan | Acadia BroadcastingDrawing of the site plan 3. Photo: Alex Allan | Acadia Broadcasting
She said the Field House has become a heavily used and sustainable facility since opening in 2019, and the expansion will help meet growing demand for community programs.
Saint John Mayor Donna Noade Reardon said the project will modernize aging rink infrastructure and create a central hub for recreation, learning and community services.
“By bringing recreation, learning, and community resources together under one roof, this new facility will create a central gathering place that promotes health; it’ll promote wellness, inclusion, and community connection,” Reardon said.
Reardon added that the city has been setting aside money for several years to support the project and called the federal contribution a sign of confidence in the region.
The Saint John Exhibition Association, which donated land for the original Field House, is donating additional land for the expansion for one dollar.
The revamped Field House board now includes city representatives and new staff to help steer the project forward.
Officials say the expansion will replace older facilities in the community, increase access to recreation and child‑care programs, and support regional growth.
The YMCA is also running a $6.5‑million capital campaign tied to the project, with a larger public update expected in the fall.
Work on the new facility is expected to begin next year, with completion planned for 2029.
After taking nearly twice as long as expected, the updated Barrington Recreation Centre is finally opening.
The new “Barrington RecPlex” will have its soft opening on July 13, and an official grand opening on Aug. 5th.
The project was announced in 2024, and was expected to be finished in the summer of 2025, but multiple delays that Warden Shaun Hatfield called “frustrating and embarrassing” plagued the project.
New additions to the centre include a fully accessible building, a program kitchen, warm spectator viewing areas, community meeting spaces, a 4,000 square-foot multi-purpose room, activity spaces and a walking-running track.
Barrington’s Director of Recreation Misty James said finally getting the centre open has been a welcome relief, and that although there are some minor details that still need to be finished, the space is ready to be used.
“Everything’s available,” said James. “It’s a new structure and completely unlike anything we’ve had before or is even available in all of southwest Nova Scotia.”
In an interview with Acadia News, James said that right now anyone can come and enjoy the space free of charge, but that they’re looking to move to a membership model after the August grand opening.
The new memberships would include pool services as well as the amenities available at the new recreation centre. James said she expects schedule and pricing details to come out in the coming weeks, but the plan is to keep memberships and day passes affordable.
“One example would be a seniors membership, in the past seniors could purchase a pass for the summer to the pool alone for $50. An annual membership to the whole place, including those swims, is $60,” said James. “It’s extremely reasonable. We’re very thankful, this building was built by our tax base and our taxpayers and we want them to be able to use it.”
