The Riverview Recreation Complex will not be ready for opening this winter.
An update on the project revealed the change in timeline is due to more work required in the pool.
Recreation director David Shea says a portion of the pool slab was not up to specifications and had to be replaced.
“Because the work sits on the project’s critical path, there’s a series of impacts coming from that that impact the overall schedule,” Shea told Riverview council.
The original timeline had the facility ready for the Town to take control in October 2026 and open to the public in January 2027.
The delay has shifted that timeline, with the Town taking control in April 2027 and the opening now scheduled for July 2027.
The schedule change is largely due to the additional work and the subsequent effects to construction and sequencing co-ordination.
Shea told council the project remains on track in terms of the budget.
His report noted the updated timeline included approximately $355,000 related to design consultants and project management.
The report said those costs are being tracked and assessed through the project’s contractual processes and haven’t been accepted as additional costs to the Town of Riverview.
Staff are also monitoring a potential financial exposure in the range of $800,000, mostly tied to the extended project duration and potential contractor impacts.
The report said the final financial impact will depend on how risks are mitigated and the outcome of ongoing contractual and claims processes.
The Town of Riverview will begin water main flushing on April 20th, every Monday to Friday for the next five weeks.
The flushing is routine maintenance that is necessary to maintain satisfactory water quality, according to the town.
During flushing operations, water may become discolored and water pressure might be lower. The discoloration should clear within a short time, but the town says citizens should minimize consumption if a change in water appearance is noted.
Those in the area should turn on the cold water tap until it runs clear to prevent staining and to clear water lines.
The town encourages anyone with questions to contact Riverview’s Department of Engineering and Public Works at (506) 387-2030.
For more information about the flush, refer to the Town’s release. For a flushing schedule map, refer to the release or here.
The Town of Riverview partnered with local muralist Ji Hyang Ryu to help bring a new project to life at Riverview’s Indoor Skatepark and Youth Centre on Lakeside Drive. Ryu and the students she teaches through her own studio took on the task of reviving the beige ramps and walls of the skatepark.
“I have always enjoyed painting, my entire life I’ve been painting and sketching,” said Ryu.
Ryu has been teaching art in Riverview since 2014 and has been a part of numerous art projects across New Brunswick, mainly to the greater Moncton area. She has over 200 students.
Ryu worked as a medical lab assistant for seven years. During COVID, she decided to resign and focus on her career as a professional artist, which she has been since 2020.
When Ryu saw the skatepark for the first time, she saw an opportunity to shine a spotlight on local youth.
“The skatepark was bare, there was nothing on the walls, on the ramps, it was all bare wood. I wanted to give the opportunity to local youth who are really good at art but have no chance to show it or to learn how to do murals,” said Ryu.
She got permission from the Town of Riverview to transform the space, and after the park received funding from the province’s Arts in Communities program, Ryu opened applications for students to submit their designs.
She selected 17 students, who took only two weeks to transform the space. Ryu learned how to paint murals from Festival Inspire executive director Lisa Griffin. She transformed those skills into her own mural inside the skatepark, spanning from floor to ceiling, which took her two days. Ryu used a boom lift for her piece, but for safety reasons the students stuck to painting the side boards of ramps.
Two murals found inside the park, front mural done by a student, mural in background done by Ji Hyang Ryu (Source: Town of Riverview)
“The town didn’t give us a theme, so they told us to go free, whatever we want. We wanted to do more, but we just did not have enough time. There were some limitations for reaching certain walls, so I could only do one wall. The kids did the ramps; I did not want to risk their safety,” said the muralist.
Each student created their own mural, rejuvenating the ramps inside the skatepark.
“When we got together the first day, I asked, ‘Who wants this wall? Who wants this one?’ and they chose their own areas,” said Ryu.
The feedback Ryu received has been very positive.
“People send me messages like, ‘thank you for doing this, thank you for making this place brighter for kids to enjoy,’ and I want to put more colours and bright, positive messages for the kids … I don’t think we’re done yet. I feel like it needs more,” said Ryu.
Ryu plans to reapply for grants to further the progress herself and her students have made in the skatepark.
“I do not want to use the kids’ talent for free, I don’t think that’s fair. They practice at home, they study at home, so I try to make them feel like ‘oh, I can do this. I can do something positive,'” she explained. “You know, it’s changed their lives.”
To learn more about Ji Hyang Ryu and her art, please visit her website.
To learn more about the skatepark and to see more images, click here.
