Bradford is looking for help breathing new life into one of the town’s older arenas.
Council approved a motion to apply to the province’s Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund (CSRIF) to help cover the estimated $350,000 cost to replace the arena dasher boards and glass at the Bob Fallis Sports Centre, during its Oct. 15 meeting.
The provincial government first announced CSRIF on April 18, with a commitment of as much as $200 million over three years to support new and revitalized local sport and recreation facilities.
“Ontario’s new Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund will transform and expand recreational facilities across the province, creating jobs and fostering healthier and more active lifestyles for families,” Premier Doug Ford said in a press release at the time. “As our population grows, our government is building the necessary infrastructure so families can live, work, play and thrive right in their local communities.”
According to the province, the funding is separated into two categories, with the first covering as much as 50 per cent of costs to a maximum of $1 million to repair or upgrade existing sport and recreation facilities into more accessible, “state-of-the-art” facilities that better suit the community’s needs.
The second covers as much as 50 per cent of costs to a maximum of $10 million to build new and “transformative” sport and recreation facilities, including replacing existing facilities that have reached the end of their lifespan and are beyond repair.
The town is applying to the first category, which has a deadline of Oct. 29 and requires all projects be completed within 24 months of entering a transfer payment agreement with the province.
While not included in the motion, other future improvements to the sports centre at 2961 Sideroad 10 are set to include upgrades to the dehumidification system and upper roof, according to an update to council on June 18.
The same update noted the town replaced the sports centre’s HVAC system in 2018 followed by the lower roof in 2023.
Council approved the motion unanimously and without discussion, though Ward 3 Coun. Ben Verkaik was absent.
