Port Moody council approves temporary basketball court at former firehall site

Port Moody council has unanimously approved plans to build a temporary outdoor basketball court at the former firehall site in Inlet Centre, aiming to fill a long-standing gap in recreational space for the city’s urban core.

The decision, made at the Jan. 13 council meeting, directs staff to proceed with construction of a full-size, high-school regulation basketball court on the underused asphalt lot, using funding from the province’s Growing Communities Fund.

Coun. Samantha Agtarap said the idea emerged from council discussions about how best to use the $250,000 capital allocation for new courts while responding to feedback from residents – particularly youth – who have been calling for more active outdoor spaces.

She noted that indoor courts at the Port Moody Recreation Centre are often fully booked and shared with other programs, while there are no outdoor basketball courts within easy walking distance for downtown residents.

“Inlet Centre is amenity-rich in some types, but not in all types,” Agtarap said. “This fills a gap in my opinion and activates an underused central site in the heart of the town centre.”

Staff told council that while the overall basketball court project budget is $250,000, approximately $70,000 has been earmarked for the Old Firehall Site. That cost would cover resurfacing and minor regrading of the existing asphalt to improve drainage, along with new hoops, backboards, and line painting.

Because the site already has a relatively flat asphalt surface, staff said the project avoids major civil works, helping preserve funding for additional courts elsewhere in the city.

Agtarap also raised the possibility of the court serving multiple purposes in the future, including community markets or events. Staff confirmed the asphalt surface would allow for other uses and that nothing in the construction would preclude temporary activities beyond basketball.

Several councillors voiced strong support, framing the court as a near-term solution to growing recreational demand while larger projects remain years away.

Coun. Kyla Knowles said residents have repeatedly called for more recreational facilities and described the court as a practical interim option while the city advances plans to replace the deteriorating Kyle Centre.

“My hope is that there will be both indoor and outdoor basketball courts there,” Knowles said. “But in the meantime, I think this is a wonderful temporary solution. I have a feeling it’s going to be very busy.”

Coun. Callan Morrison said the proposal makes good use of a site that is not formally zoned as a park but can still provide public benefit while its long-term future is debated.

“It gives us some time to figure out what may or may not happen with that site in the future,” he said.

Morrison asked staff whether additional pickleball courts could also be accommodated, but staff said they found they did not meet the noise-mitigation guidelines for the surrounding area.

Mayor Meghan Lahti added she hopes council will receive an update on potential pickleball courts at other locations in the near future.

Coun. Haven Lurbiecki supported the project but expressed reservations about the symbolism of placing a relatively modest amenity on a site that has been the subject of years of public debate, referendums and discussion about major civic uses.

Lurbiecki emphasized the need for broader community conversations if council intends to continue using the site for temporary purposes, suggesting that a mix of uses could help ensure more residents benefit over time.

“I just want to feel confident that . . . most people are going to drive by and say, ‘Oh, that’s awesome,’ and not, ‘Why not this?’” she said. ““Hopefully this is not all of it – that this is the start of uses for that site.”

Coun. Diana Dilworth echoed those concerns, pointing out that the location is heavily used by dog owners following the loss of an informal off-leash area near Coronation Park due to redevelopment. 

She said she would be open to future discussions about additional temporary uses.

“I don’t want our residents to think that the site is going to sit fallow for 10 years and that no decisions will be made,” Dilworth said. 

Dilworth also cautioned that temporary amenities often become emotionally permanent in the public mind and urged council to plan for a long-term, permanent basketball facility in Inlet Centre so the benefit isn’t eventually taken away.

Coun. Amy Lubik said the project reflects years of engagement that failed to reach consensus on a permanent use for the site, but still delivers something tangible for residents now.

“I think this fits a lot of the engagement we’ve had,” Lubik said. “I do think it’s important that we remind folks that it won’t be there forever.”

Lahti said her support was shaped by the expectation that permanent outdoor basketball courts will eventually be built as part of the Coronation Park redevelopment, creating a transition from temporary to long-term facilities.

“At least for now, we are filling that gap,” she said, “with the knowledge that eventually there will be permanent courts in Coronation Park.”

City staff said construction is expected to be completed by May or June 2026, and the court is designed for a lifespan of up to 10 years while the city determines the site’s long-term future through its land management strategy.