THUNDER BAY — An official with the City of Thunder Bay says the city received a strong response to a request for expressions of interest in helping the city develop an interim covered synthetic turf facility.

The city hopes to have it built and operational by the fall of 2019. It would accommodate a range of sports including soccer.

The general manager of Community Services, Kelly Robertson, told Tbnewswatch that "more than five" non-profit and private sector organizations responded to the EOI request, leaving the city with a range of ideas.

Robertson described the proposals as including a number of "promising" options which are "not all the same, shape and size."

Members of the city's evaluation committee were briefed Monday on the criteria they'll need to consider.

"We expect to be able to short-list proposals for a second stage procurement process by the end of October," Robertson said.

City invited to submit funding request to NOHFC

The city decided earlier this year to pursue an interim solution to the need for a new indoor facility while it continues to seek funding for development of a new structure at Chapples Park—estimated to cost close to $30 million—over the next several years.

Progress is being made on that front as well, as Robertson revealed that provincial officials have now invited the city to proceed to the next stage of a funding application to the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation. The initial submission to NOHFC was made last March.

"That timing is good. We're trying to work on that application as well. There's lots of great work going on," she said.

Robertson said it's conceivable that the city could look at locations other than Chapples Park, or there could be "some type of merger between the interim solution and the longer-term solution...It's looking quite promising as far as finding a solution for the community."

Depending on what arrangements are ultimately made for financing the projects, she said, the community and city council may decide that "we can meet the needs through maybe not exactly the same kind of facility that was proposed for that permanent solution. There are many options, which is very good."