New Skateboard Park Gets Central Region Recreation Funding

NOTE: A list of projects receiving funding in the Central Region follows the release.

Young people will soon be doing flips and tricks, staying fit and having fun at a new skateboard park in Hubbards.

A grant of $48,000 for the park was announced today, June 18, through the Recreation Facility Development Program. The park is one of 21 projects in the Central Region receiving grants totalling $582,000.

"Community organizations and recreation facilities like this skateboard park offer Nova Scotians a wide variety of ways to get active and lead healthier lives," said Denise Peterson-Rafuse, Minister of Community Services, on behalf of Health and Wellness Minister David Wilson. "The province is providing nearly $2 million for 59 projects provincewide so children, youth and families can stay fit and have fun."

The Hubbards Area Recreation Association and Halifax Regional Municipality are building the skateboard park at the Hubbards Recreation Centre.

"Our main focus has been to bring recreation back to our community and this skate park is a hugh step in making this a reality," said Justyne Higgins, chair of the association. "This has been a vision of ours since 2008 and will be an excellent addition to our diverse recreation centre."

The grants help community groups, municipalities and other not-for-profit organizations develop facilities to increase public participation in sport and physical recreation. Examples include renovations to buildings, developing and maintaining walking trails, and building and upgrading fields used for sport and recreation.

The grants support Thrive!, the province's plan for a healthier Nova Scotia. The plan has 34 actions to create supportive environments for healthy eating and physical activity. Learn more at http://thrive.novascotia.ca .

Following is a list of some of the grants announced this week for projects in the central region:

• Basinview Drive Community School and Halifax Regional Municipality, playground improvements, $28,000
• Bayers Westwood Family Resource Centre and Halifax Regional Municipality, playground and park improvements, $18,000
• Bel Ayr Elementary School and Halifax Regional Municipality, playground improvements, $30,000
• Grosvenor Wentworth Park School Parent Teacher Association and Halifax Regional Municipality, playground improvements, $30,000
• Kingswood Rate Payers Association and Halifax Regional Municipality, building a minor baseball facility, $25,000
• Halifax Regional Municipality, building sport court facility at Montebello Park in Dartmouth, $17,000
• Harrietsfield Elementary School and Halifax Regional Municipality, playground improvements, $18,000
• Hawthorne Elementary School and Halifax Regional Municipality, playground improvements, $18,000
• Hubbards Area Recreation Association, building a skateboard park, $48,000
• Musquodoboit Valley Education Centre, playground improvements, $15,000
• Oaken Hills Residents Association and Halifax Regional Municipality, building a new playground and park, $27,000
• Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron, accessibility upgrades, $50,000
• Waverley Ratepayers Association and Halifax Regional Municipality, developing the Waverley Village Green park, $35,000