By Nadine Eagles-Harvie
THE HANTS JOURNAL
NovaNewsNow.com
Annapolis Valley communities will receive thousands of dollars toward improvements at local recreational facilities and some of those funds will be spent in Windsor and West Hants.
The Nova Scotia Department of Health Promotion and Protection announced $318,100 in grants for the valley region, June 21 under the Recreation Facility Development Program.
The Town of Windsor will receive $12,000 to replace equipment at Burgess Crescent playground. The Municipality of West Hants will get $8,100 for the St. Croix ballfield and the Rotary Club of Windsor will get $20,000 over two years for improvements to Camp Mockingee.
Rotarian, Andy Kirk said the grant would go a long way in supporting recreational activities for the hundreds of youths who visit the camp each year.
“We had over 2,000 users at the camp last year and 200 days of use. That is almost an entire school year. There are a lot of children who will benefit from upgrades here,” he said.
Improvements at Camp Mockingee will include, amongst other things, playground renovations, waterfront upgrades, a paved basketball court and the winterizing of a washhouse.
The grant was approved as a one-third funding agreement with the province, Kirk said. The Rotary Club will contribute $40,000 in cash and in kind materials and labor.
“We couldn’t’ be more ecstatic,” he said of the announcement. “We are going to put that money to really good use.”
Kathy Kehoe, director of recreation for the Municipality of West Hants said the dugouts at the St. Croix ballpark were in serious need of repair. “The concrete was cracked and there were safety concerns.”
With the Junior Men’s’ Nationals taking place at the park this August, Kehoe said it was important to have those upgrades complete.
Last year the facility received a $5,000 grant and the additional $8,000 in funding will be very helpful, she said.
“It’s a pricey venture, but it had to be done not only for the use of the community but also to attract larger sporting events to the area.”
Total cost of the dugout repairs is $30,000.
VanEssa Roberts, director of community development, tourism and recreation for the Town of Windsor said the recreation department is pleased to receive funding for the Burgess Crescent playground. “That section of town is growing with young families and the playground has been in need of up dating for sometime.”
Council approved upgrades to the park as a capital costs project. The total cost for the project will exceed $60,000.
The play structure will be designed to accommodate all ages and staff will be working on specs and making a final recommendation to council in the near future for approval,” Roberts said.
Under the Recreation Facility Development Program, 17 grants were approved to renovate facilities, develop and maintain walking trails, and build and upgrade various fields and buildings used for sport and recreation.
"We are making the right decision for Nova Scotia families by investing $2.94 million in recreation facilities throughout Nova Scotia," said MLA Jim Morton, on behalf of Maureen MacDonald, Minister of Health Promotion and Protection. "By investing in these projects, we are ensuring that people in all regions of this province have access to safe and modern facilities where they can be active and stay healthy."
The program assists community groups; municipalities and other not-for-profit organizations develop facilities to increase public participation in sport and physical recreation.
