The Recreation Facilities Association of B.C. named Masich Place Stadium the winner of the 2021 Bill Woycik Outstanding Facility Award.
The award is presented annually by the association for a new or recently-renovated facility that meets community needs, and features innovative design, energy management, revenue generation potential, operations, maintenance and services.
The City of Prince George completed a $7.5 million renovation of the facility in July last year. Some of the new features installed include a synthetic turf field, resurfaced running track, new jumping and throwing areas and upgraded stands which meet FIFA, CFL, NFL and IAAF standards.
The artificial field meant the city was able to open the facility in April this year, weeks ahead of when the facility previously opened with natural grass fields.
The city also installed new high-efficiency LED field lights and an LED multi-sport scoreboard with sound system. The LED lighting reduces the power consumption by 80 to 90 per cent, according to information released by the city.
Accessibility upgrades were also made to the stands and washrooms.
The city also implemented a new operational model which saw city staff on site during open hours.
The Bill Woycik Outstanding Facility Award is named for former Prince George Coliseum (now called Rolling Mix Concrete Arena) manager W.E. 'Bill" Woycik. Woycik retired in 1987, having risen to the role of city director of civic properties and recreation.
Woycik was the eighth president of the association and served as secretary-treasurer for seven years, when it was known as the BC Arena, Auditorium and Stadium Association.
In 1991, Woycik was posthumously presented the association's Award of Merit for his contributions to the field.
The City of Prince George has won the award twice previously, once in 1996 for the Prince George Conference and Civic Centre, and again in 2014 for the upgrades to the Kin Centre arenas.
