A facelift for MacLean Park is one of eight Manitoba projects that will receive funding from the federal government's Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) program, treasury board secretary and MP Vic Toews (Provencher) announced Nov. 23.
"These projects will create jobs, and ensure that our communities have access to the essential infrastructure we need today, and in the future," said Toews, who made the announcement on behalf of Lynne Yelich, minister of state for western economic diversification.
The Manitoba projects will receive $448,724 and also include projects in Somerset, Lac du Bonnet, Balmoral, Stonewall, Woodlands and Winnipeg.
The City of Thompson, it was announced, is receiving a federal contribution of $230,000 toward the MacLean Park redevelopment, which has a projected total cost of $690,698, and cover work such as incorporating a viewing area, re-designing a water feature, improving walking areas and lighting, improving access for service vehicles and increasing vegetation.
Bruce Krentz, the City of Thompson's director of recreation, parks and culture, said the city was informed one day before the announcement that the funding application had been approved, though he said they had some idea it might be coming when the city received a request for more details a few months earlier. However, he said the project may have to be scaled back to a total cost of about $250,000 because the city may not have room in its budget for the municipal contribution proposed in the grant application.
