Halifax Regional Municipality Gets Investment in Sport, Recreation

NOTE: A list of grants awarded in HRM follows the release.

Families throughout Halifax Regional Municipality will have more opportunities to be physically active thanks to the province's annual recreation facility development grant program.

Barry Barnet, Minister of Health Promotion and Protection, announced today, May 1, investments totalling $606,585 for HRM. The investment is part of the annual $3-million provincewide grant program.

"Investing in sport and recreation facilities is part of our overall strategy to make Nova Scotians healthier and help reduce the demand on our health-care system," said Mr. Barnet.

The grants will be used to construct and renovate playgrounds, purchase an accessible sailboat, develop and expand trail systems, and build a gymnastics facility and a volleyball court.
Community groups work with Health Promotion and Protection staff to develop projects and apply for funding. The recreation facility development grant program provides up to one-third of capital costs; communities are responsible for raising the rest. The program will help create about $14.5 million in construction through 84 organizations.

"Our goal is to make Nova Scotia the healthiest province in the country," said Mr. Barnet. "We can not do this alone. I congratulate the many volunteers that recognized a need in their communities and worked so hard to build the support and make it a reality."

Grants through the recreation facility development program are provided based on criteria such as community need and benefit, the amount of planning and preparation, sustainability, and other funding commitments.

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

Note: A list of grants in HRM follows:

• Ketch Harbour Area Residents Association: Construction of new park, $25,000;
• Cole Harbour Place: Replace refrigeration plant,$134,000 to be paid over two years;
• Eastern Shore Recreation Commission: Engergy conserving measures, $15,775;
• Hammonds Plains Consolidated School: Build new playground, $40,000;
• Colonel John Stuart Elementary School: Playground renovations, $20,000;
• Mulgrave Park Tenant Association: Construct multi sport court, $9,700;
• Oyster Pond Academy: Construct accessible playground, $25,000;
• Titans Gymnastics and Trampoline: Construct new gymnastics facility, $90,000 to be paid over two years;
• Cole Harbour Parks and Trail Association: Trail expansion, $30,000;
• Friends of First Lake Society: Upgrades to First Lake trail, $17,230;
• Sail Able Association of Nova Scotia: Purchase accessible sailing boat, $11,380;
• Eastern Shore Wildlife Association: Renovation to lodge, $11,500;
• Halifax Regional Municipality: Improve school playgrounds, $30,000;
• Duc d'Anville School: Purchase of playground equipment, $10,000;
• Silver Sands Conservation Society and HRM: Improvements to Silver Sands Surf park, $50,000;
• St. Catherine's School PTA Playground: Renovate school playground, $20,000;
• Shubenacadie Canal Commission: Lake William Trail development, $50,000;
• St. Margaret's Bay Area Rails to Trails: Complete surfacing of 2.1 km of trail, $9,000; and
• Halifax Regional Municipality: New volleyball court for Cunard Jr. High School, $8,000.