Investment Brings New, Improved Facilities for Cape Breton

A new health recreation complex is coming to Cape Breton along with improvements to Renwick Park and Ski Ben Eoin thanks to more than $3 million worth of provincial investments.

Premier Rodney MacDonald announced the funding today, June 16, in Sydney.

"Today's announcement is possible thanks to government, community groups and organizations coming together to achieve one common goal, and that is to help more of Cape Breton's children, families and seniors live more active and healthier lives," said Premier MacDonald. "Government has identified 'safer, healthy communities' as one of our priorities. Investments such as this speak to our dedication to that priority."

The province is investing $3 million to help build the health recreation complex for Cape Breton. The new facility will feature many firsts for the area, including an artificial athletic track and field facility meeting International Association of Athletics Federations standards. The more than 3,600 registered soccer players in Cape Breton will benefit from the area's first full-sized artificial turf soccer field. It will have an adjacent indoor soccer facility with a smaller artificial field surface. A wellness centre offering cardiovascular and strength training equipment will be offered at the complex.

"We are absolutely thrilled that the provincial government has provided us with this funding," said Jim Merkely, chair, Cape Breton Health Recreation Complex Inc. "This is an exciting project involving funds from different partners, including local contributions.

"It's a significant step toward completing what we believe will be a tremendous recreational and wellness facility for industrial Cape Breton."

Cape Breton University, Cape Breton District Health Authority, Soccer Cape Breton, Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board, the Track and Field Association of Cape Breton and many others collaborated on the proposal. The cost of the complex is estimated at $9 million.

The province is also investing $150,000 to improve Renwick Brook Park in Glace Bay. The grant will contribute to redeveloping 4.1 kilometers of trail to link other public spaces and areas in Glace Bay. Significant lighting upgrades will be part of the project to improve security in the park. The project's is estimated at $560,000.

An investment of $187,000 to help replace and upgrade snow-making equipment at Ski Ben Eoin will help the operation make snow at higher ambient temperatures so it can open sooner. The total cost of the project is $560,000.

Funding for the projects is from the province's Building Facilities and Infrastructure Together investment plan. The $50-million, 10-year sport and recreation infrastructure investment plan is in addition to the $3 million invested annually in recreation facility development grants.