Provincial grant money could help Spallumcheen provide new playground equipment for the McLeod Subdivision.
Council voted unanimously to remove all playground equipment from two lots on Lockhart Drive due to liability concerns.
A community recreation grant program announced in October could pay up to 80 per cent of eligible project costs.
“There is no cap on the funding request,” said Brian Freeman-Marsh, the township’s chief financial officer. “But, keeping in mind past thresholds and provincial dispersing of funds, I think we should be asking for $150,000.”
If successful in asking for $150,000, the township would contribute $30,000 to the playground.
Council was given three options for costs for playground equipment, irrigation, fencing and landscaping.
The equipment costs ranged from a low of $90,365 to a high of $224,238, while irrigation ($13,100), fencing ($5,000) and landscaping ($25,000) stayed the same in each option.
Council voted unanimously on option one, where the equipment will cost $115,621.
Total cost of that particular option would be $158,721. Spall’s portion, if they got the 80 per cent recreation grant funding, would be $31,744.
In his two-page report to council, Freeman-Marsh suggested that the money could come from the parks sales land reserve, but would have to be repaid.
“The repayment term would be dependent on the amount of funds required,” wrote Freeman-Marsh.
The other option to pay for the equipment would be to sell one of two empty tot lots in the McLeod Subdivision and use sale proceeds to fund the costs.
Any excess proceeds would be placed in a reserve for future use.
Council also voted unanimously to support the City of Armstrong’s application on behalf of the Armstrong Spallumcheen Parks and Recreation Commission for $236,161 for improvements to the Hassen Arena.
This application would also strive for 80 per cent funding from the community recreation grant program. The township and city would each pay $11,120 towards Hassen upgrades.
