Communities Receive Grants for Facilities

Communities across Nova Scotia will receive grants to build, upgrade and repair sport and recreation facilities. Recreation Facility Development grants worth $2.1 million were announced today, May 20, by Health Promotion Minister Rodney MacDonald.

Mr. MacDonald made the announcement at the Bridgetown Arena where a $110,000 grant was awarded. The arena was forced to close its doors in October 2003 after an assessment revealed that it was not structurally sound. Within a few months the town consulted with an engineering firm, hired a contractor and made the needed improvements. Its doors reopened in March 2004, allowing a number of hockey teams and other skaters to return to their home ice.

"People from Bridgetown to Sydney will benefit from these grants being awarded to their communities to create safe and accessible places to be active," said Mr. MacDonald. "Research tells us that increased access to sport and recreation facilities is very effective in increasing physical activity levels -- our goal is to increase those levels in the province and ultimately improve the health of all Nova Scotians."

Applicants work with staff of the Office of Health Promotion's Sport and Recreation Division, which has six regional representatives across the province. Staff help community groups develop their projects and apply for funding. The grant program provides up to one-third of a project's capital cost and communities are responsible for raising the rest. As a result of this investment, the province will see about $10.5 million worth of construction by 59 organizations.

The total cost of work completed at the Bridgetown Arena was $400,000. Ron Gullon, Mayor of the Town of Bridgetown, said that without the funds from the province and a local memorial trust fund, the arena would still be locked up because the town could not afford a project of this magnitude.

"This arena is an integral part of our society," said Mr. Gullon. "It's important to the youth who play hockey, broomball and lacrosse, it's important to the people who come to watch the games, and it's important to local businesses who benefit from the traffic to the arena."

Grants are provided based on common criteria, such as community need and benefits, the level of planning and preparation, stability and past success of the organization, and resourcefulness and partnerships resulting in other funding commitments.

The grant program helps municipalities and community groups plan, construct, renovate, conserve or acquire facilities for public recreation purposes. Projects eligible for assistance include community centres, pools, sport facilities, parks, playgrounds, trails and other outdoor recreation facilities.

NOTE: Following is a list of the organizations across the province receiving funding through the Recreation Facility Development Grant Program.

Cape Breton Region

• Sydney Curling Club: repairs and renovations; $15,549
• District 7 Sports Complex, Whitney Pier: structural repair and replacement of arena roof; $114,000 paid over two years
• Mabou and District Athletic Club: structural repairs and renovations to arena; $37,900
• New Waterford Community Wellness Committee, Cape Breton Regional Municipality: construction of a lighted, artificial turf field; $65,000 paid over two years
• Conseil Scolaire Acadien Provincial, Ecole Beau Port: construction of soccer field; $45,000 paid over two years
• Holy Guardian Angels Parish: renovations and repairs to community centre; $8,600
• Riverdale Community Service Society: renovations and repairs to community centre; $15,000
• Inverness County Trails Federation, Inverness County: complete section of Trans-Canada trail; $45,000 paid over three years
• St. John's Centre: new roof for community centre; $11,800
• Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board, Cusack Cornwallis Complex: construction of a playground; $5,000

Central Region

• Cole Harbour Parks and Trails Association: develop additional five kilometres of trail, part of the Cole Harbour Heritage Trail System; $20,000
• Halifax Regional Municipality, Clayton Park Junior High School: upgrade existing soccer field to improve drainage and surface area; $25,000
• Scout's Canada, Adrian's Leadership Lodge: replacement of aging camp facilities; $10,000
• Halifax Regional Municipality, Second Lake Regional Park: develop Canopy Creek Trail in Second Lake Park; $16,500
• Rails to Trails, St. Margaret's Bay Area: surface nine kilometres of trail from Boutlier's Point to Black Point; $20,000
• Halifax Regional Municipality, Lake Charles Trail: complete final section of the Lake Charles Trail, link to Shubie Park; $10,000
• Halifax Regional Municipality, Portland Estates Residents Association: complete phase 1 in Portland Estates; $12,000
• Halifax Regional Municipality, Dartmouth Lawn Bowling Facility: replace the artificial playing surface; $40,000
• Halifax Regional Municipality, Kingswood Drive: development of new park and soccer field in Kingswood Drive suburban area; $25,000
• Sackville Rivers Association: construct two kilometres of trail linking Bedford to Sackville (Bedford Sackville Connector Greenway); $20,000
• Maritime Muslim Academy: replace play structure; $7,500
• Beechville-Lakeside-Timberlea Rails to Trails: extend trail through Bayers Lake Industrial Park; $10,000
• Bluff Wilderness Trail Project: develop 15 kilometres of wilderness hiking trails; $20,000
• Porters Lake and Myra Road Wilderness Association: develop bridge and trail head for Crowbar Trail project; $5,000
• Halifax Regional Municipality, Sheet Harbour Recreation Authority: develop a fitness centre; $25,000

Valley Region

• Bridgetown Parks and Recreation: arena structural renovations; $110,000
• Clementsvale and District Recreation Committee: upgrade community hall; $9,000
• Harbourville Restoration Society: upgrade community hall; $10,000
• Annapolis Valley Exhibition: construct public washrooms; $11,000
• Bridgetown Lawn Bowling and Quoits Club: clubhouse repairs; $6,000
• Middleton and Area Rink Association: upgrade arena; $95,000
• Hants Shore Community Health Centre: develop community park; $35,000
• Cornwallis Parks and Recreation Society: develop Veterans Memorial Park Trail; $30,000
• Kingsport Community Association: upgrade community hall; $42,000
• Windsor Recreation: repair outdoor swimming pool; $20,000
• Cornwallis District Health and Recreation Society: install new roof; $7,000
• Association Sentier de Clare, Rails to Trail Association: develop trail; $100,000 paid over three years
• Canning and District Recreation Commission: construct two tennis courts; $20,000
• Newport and District Rink Commission: install new roof; $22,000
• Three Mile Plains Community Association: upgrade hall; $5,000
• Hantsport School and Hantsport Home and School Association: upgrade playground; $6,000
• Digby Youth Sailing School: purchase boats for sailing school; $15,000
• Digby Neck Consolidated School: upgrade playground; $16,000

Fundy Region

• Nova Scotia Rifle Association: provincial shooting sport training facility; $22,610
• Municipality of Cumberland County, Brookdale Elementary School: gym enhancement; $25,000
• Town of Amherst, Amherst Elementary School: gym enhancement; $25,000
• Nova Scotia Provincial Exhibition: Agridome, indoor soccer facility; $150,000 paid over two years
• Wallace and Area Recreation Committee: ball hockey/roller blade/ice rink; $20,550
• Amherst Curling Club: year two of life-cycle improvements; $6,250

Highland Region

• Hector Arena Commission: replace arena roof; $13,000
• Pictou County Snow Riders: purchase trail groomer; $5,000
• Pictou County Trails Association: develop Pictou/Oxford shoreline trail; $10,000
• St. Mary's Rink Association, Sherbrooke: improvements to arena, bleachers and additional insulation; $10,000
• District 13 Recreation and Planning Commission, Thorburn: improvements to arena, ice-making system, mechanic and electronic system; $25,000 paid over two years
• Guysborough Amateur Athletic Association: improvements to ballfield lighting at Drysdale Memorial Field; $20,000 paid over two years
• Scotia Rink Commission, Town of New Glasgow: replace arena roof; $30,000 paid over two years
• Landsdowne Outdoor Recreation Association: park upgrades to repair damage from Hurricane Juan; $10,613

South Shore

• Aspotogan Recreation Association: develop playground; $11,500
• Canada and District Hall Association: expand and upgrade hall; $13,000
• Chester United Baptist Church: expand church hall for community use; $40,000 paid over two years
• Girl Guides of Canada, Lunenburg/Queens area: expand camp building and replace toilets; $13,500
• Hubbards Barn Association: restore bar and develop community park; $50,000 paid over two years
• Municipality of the District of Chester: upgrade and expand playground; $10,000
• Municipality of the District of Lunenburg: develop trails and park; $48,000 paid over two years
• New Ross Family Resource Centre: establish a fitness centre; $27,000
• Port Medway Parents and Tots Association: develop multi- purpose court; $11,500