Grants for Recreation Facilities

Seventy communities are to receive more than $2.8 million in Recreation Facility Development grants in 2001, Sport and Recreation Minister Rodney MacDonald announced today.

"Knowing that physical inactivity levels are an issue in Nova Scotia, the availability of sport and recreation facilities takes on increased importance -- especially at the community level." said Mr. MacDonald. "The commission works with municipalities, local groups and other partners to provide communities with the best facilities possible."

The Recreation Facility Development program provides only one- third of a project’s capital cost, and communities form creative working partnerships with other agencies and organizations to acquire the remaining two-thirds of the needed capital.

Projects range from improving existing sport and recreation facilities to upgrading facilities to meet standards required for hosting national events. Among the projects receiving funding this year are:

• further development of multi-purpose regional facilities in Antigonish and Yarmouth;
• upgrading of Northside Pool in North Sydney;
• enhancement of Graham Creighton School in Dartmouth for community use;
• assistance in developing an oceanfront park in Kingsport, Kings Co.;
• construction of an accessible playground in New Glasgow; and
• upgrading of the Church Memorial Park in Chester, a three-year project
• conversion of a school in Bay St. Lawrence, Victoria Co., to a community centre.

With the building of a number of new schools in the province, the commission seeks 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 $1.5 million 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.