The municipality received a financial boost last week, when the federal government announced the recipients of its Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Grants.
The municipality was awarded $187,500 to put toward the redevelopment of Centennial Field, which is in dire need of some tender love and care.
Through the grant program, the government is investing $150 million in projects that will rehabilitate existing community facilities across the country. The funding will be made available in 2017—the year of Canada’s 150th birthday—on the condition that the municipality match those funds, bringing the total project budget up to $375,000.
In its application, the municipality requested $200,000. Although the grant is $12,500 shy of the municipality’s initial ask, Yvonne McNabb, director of culture and recreation, told council, Aug. 4, that the project can be completed for $375,000.
With those funds, the municipality plans to redesign, excavate and reconstruct the field to improve its irrigation and drainage, as well as make the surface safe for users.
The field is presently uneven, with large patches of uncovered earth, a significant number of weeds and countless divots, as well as exposed sprinkler heads.
“It’s a wonderful, absolutely wonderful thing that we’re going to be able to move forward with the restoration of the park,” said McNabb, noting that within the requirements of the grant, construction can’t begin until April 1, 2017 and it must be completed by December of that year.
“It’s a very short window, but that just means we have to hit the ground running and be prepared to do the work we need to on Centennial Park field.”
The matching $187,500 will come from culture and recreation reserve funds. Prior to the grant proposal, those funds were in the budget for 2016, but administration decided to delay the project in order to apply for the Canada 150 grant, as well as to allow the high school exchange lands to be completed, so that the community will have a temporary field while Centennial is redeveloped.
The exchange lands, which are becoming a multipurpose green space, are expected to be completed by early 2017.
Centennial Field has been in rough shape for a number of years. Its last facelift was eight years ago, when the provincial government awarded the municipality a $200,000 grant for grading and new turf.
Despite that upgrade, the condition of the field quickly deteriorated.
To avoid a similar occurrence and increase the longevity of Jasper’s fields, Mark Fercho, chief administrative officer, told council that administration is working on a turfgrass management strategy for both Centennial Field and the new exchange lands.
That strategy will come to council for discussion and approval when it’s completed.
Nicole Veerman
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