Mayor Ann Lawlor's October 2024 Message

HALTON HILLS, ON – Originally published in Halton Hills Today.

Development of Town-owned land on the Eighth Line beside the Gellert Centre would provide much-needed parkland and recreational amenities, including new features such as a pump track, natural playground, new public tennis and pickleball courts, beach volleyball courts, multi-purpose courts, outdoor fitness areas, and the replacement of a major existing soccer field. There is also an opportunity for future seasonal indoor facility partnerships, such as an air-supported dome, which would provide court play.

The estimated investment to develop a new park is about $8 million. This includes new features, enhancement to existing park features, and design and construction cost contingencies. In addition to the capital investment for park construction, there would be ongoing operating costs related to park maintenance, repairs, and recreation sales and service.

Now the bad news: The park development project didn’t make the cut in the 2025 budget that staff will soon be presenting to Town Council.

Frankly, I was disappointed that not even a portion of the park was budgeted for next year and so I jumped on the recent announcement of a new provincial sport and recreation grant. The Ontario fund, capped at $200 million for more than 400 municipalities, offers up to $10 million for new builds or major upgrades of sport and recreation facilities. Obviously, the competition for the dollars will be fierce among Ontario’s towns and cities.

Council decided on Monday evening that the park expansion was important; that we would submit an application and seek $4 million in provincial funding. It was also noted that given the Town’s budget realities, if the application to the province was not successful, then the park development project would not proceed in the near future.

There’s more: If the grant application is successful, to secure the Town’s required contribution of $4 million to match the provincial funds, we will be launching a fundraising campaign. Like our efforts to construct our lively arenas and library expansions, we will be reaching out to corporations and community organizations to help realize our hopes for more places for our residents to participate and play.

Council is doing its best, within our means, to meet our residents’ needs and aspirations - one step at a time. My fingers are crossed that our funding application to the province for park development beside the Gellert Centre will be successful!