Ottawa, Prescott projects share in $14M in community building funding
Four projects in Ottawa and one in Prescott will receive more than $16 million in combined renovation funding from the federal and provincial governments.
The announcements were made on April 27 and 28.
In Ottawa, the governments committed $6.4 million to the projects, while the various funding recipients have committed just shy of an additional $3 million.
Two of the projects will support the rehabilitation of 30 parks in the City of Ottawa. A project at Centennial Park, in the south-end community of Manotick, involves constructing a new skateboard park, two basketball courts, and landscaping to improve accessibility. A second project includes the replacement of non-accessible and outdated playgrounds in 29 parks in Ottawa with accessible benches, swings, and play structures.
When combined with $1.4 million in funding from the City of Ottawa, and nearly $94,000 in funding from the Manotick Culture Parks and Recreation Association, the projects are valued at a combined $5.7 million. The projects will boost safety and accessibility.
An additional $2.2 million has been allocated to the renovation and rehabilitation of the downtown Bronson Centre. The rehabilitation includes renovating the entranceways to improve access, refurbishing the façade’s stonework, replacing windows, and upgrading ten studio spaces and the theatre for creative arts use. This work will allow the Bronson Centre to provide continued and improved access to recreational, artistic and other programs and services for culturally diverse and low-income communities across the city.
Finally, $880,000 has been allocated to renovations to the community service centre at Carlington Community Health Centre. The building will be renovated to include expanded and more accessible rooms for large community spaces. An outdoor garden area will also be built to be used as a programming space and children’s play area. The project will improve access to community infrastructure and services, especially for seniors and children.
The Bronson Centre is contributing $596,539 to its renewal project, and the Carlington Community Health Centre $235,162 to its project.
"Our community, culture and recreational facilities are critical to our residents’ well-being, and their importance has been underlined by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson.
"The four projects announced today will benefit communities across the City of Ottawa,” added Ottawa West—Nepean MP Anita Vandenbeld. “Modern, accessible parks and community hubs support the growing cultural economy and the health and well-being of our diverse population."
Meanwhile, in Prescott, the governments have allocated $9.7 million to the construction of an all-year, multiuse recreational complex.
The new recreational complex will include an indoor single ice pad surface with seating capacity of 800 on both sides, a walking track, multiple community rooms with multiuse functions, outdoor softball diamonds and outdoor soccer fields.
The Town of Prescott is contributing over $3.5 million to the work.
"I am elated that the support of the federal and provincial governments is making the dream of our Prescott recreational complex come true,” said Prescott Mayor Brett Todd. “This generous funding will allow us to build a first-class arena replacing our greatly missed Leo Boivin Community Centre and getting our local hockey teams and figure skaters back on the ice. And new facilities such as the indoor walking track and community rooms will greatly expand on what we can offer for residents of all ages across the region.”