Adam Prudhomme
Editor
Greater Napanee’s North Fredericksburgh sports complex and community hall could be in for some major upgrades courtesy a grant from Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities.
Speaking on the subject at its Sept. 22 council meeting, which was held via Zoom and broadcast on the town’s YouTube channel, council voted to receive a report and approve the jumpstart project in principle. Council also directed staff to compile an estimate of immediate and future costs of the project for the 2021 financial year budget.
Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities reached out to Greater Napanee in February of 2018 to discuss putting upwards of $300,000 towards an inclusive youth-centred play project within the town. The organization had received a bequest from an anonymous family that requested money goes towards an all-inclusive play project in the community.
North Fred has been identified as a preferred location for the project, which would include pickle ball, tennis and basketball courts, as well as an accessible sensory area.
The proposal suggests a cost between $581,000 and $441,000, meaning the town would contribute between $281,000 and $141,000 if it were to be approved.
Concept art of what a grant from Jumpstart could mean for the North Fred Hall complex.
“I think it’s really exciting that we have somebody who is willing to contribute this much of the portion of the cost to our community and to invest in both our youth and our seniors and the fact that we have a building that’s there which can serve as a base is certainly key to that,” said councillor Ellen Johnson.
Mayor Marg Isbester said the proposed location was a good fit as well.
“Jumpstart themselves are very happy that it is going in sort of a intergenerational area that would be supplying a lot of different things in I’m not going to say remote (area), but something that wasn’t smack in the middle of town. Something that would be good there for everyone,” said Isbester.
Town staff will continue to work with Jumpstart and gather a more definitive budget before council gives the final approval.
-The schedule for the 2021 budget has been approved. On Oct. 25 council will discuss the operating budget from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
On Nov. 17 the operating and capital budget will be the topic, running from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. On Dec. 5 it’ll be the operating and capital budget as well as business cases, also from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The meetings will be held in-person at the Selby Community Hall and streamed live on the town’s YouTube channel.
-The next regular session of council is scheduled for Oct. 13, which will be the first held at the Selby Community Hall.