Grants for Recreation Facilities
Eighty communities from Liverpool to Inverness are benefiting from more than $1.9 million in Recreation Facility Development grants in 1998-99, Robbie Harrison, Minister responsible for the Nova Scotia Sport and Recreation Commission, announced today.
"Sport and recreation facilities play vital roles in building vibrant communities," said Mr. Harrison. "The commission is working with municipalities, local groups and other potential partners to provide our communities with the best facilities possible."
As the Recreation Facility Development program provides only one-third of a project's capital cost, communities form creative working partnerships with other agencies and organizations to acquire the remaining two-thirds capital necessary.
The projects range from improving existing sport and recreation facilities to upgrading facilities to meet standards required for hosting national events. Among the applications receiving funding this year, some of the major projects include: renovating the Inverness County and Richmond arenas, as well as the Dartmouth YMCA; replacing the ice slab at the New Glasgow Scotia Rink; building a fitness centre at South Queens Junior High; and enlarging the gymnasium at the Hants East Elementary School.
As part of the province's school construction plan announced last fall, the Nova Scotia Sport and Recreation Commission is looking at opportunities to combine Recreation Facility Development funding with the Community Use of Schools policy. This program supports projects that promote community use of schools and provides for the use of the building and equipment by the community for general recreational purposes.
About $400,000 of this year's funding represents money committed to projects already in progress that require more than one year to complete.
The Nova Scotia Sport and Recreation Commission's Recreation Facility Development program assists municipalities and community groups in planning, constructing, renovating, conserving or acquiring facilities for public recreation purposes.
The types of projects that are generally eligible for assistance include community centres, pools, sport facilities, parks, playgrounds, trails and other outdoor recreation facilities.