Orangeville will try and secure new federal-provincial funding to help alleviate some of the costs with short-term renovations needed at some of its facilities.
Ray Osmond, general manager of community services, says there are $10-million in upgrades needed at the Alder Recreation Centre ($4.9m), Tony Rose Memorial Arena ($2.7m) and Mill Street Library ($2.5m).
He adds that the town continues to be challenged with operational and efficiency issues related to aging infrastructure at both Tony Rose and the Mill Street Library. It is also challenged by operational, equipment and facility design issues at the Alder Recreation Centre.
On Monday (Oct. 28), council approved $50,000 to hire a consultant that will help staff apply for funding under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program’s new stream that will municipalities improve access to cultural, community or recreationally-related infrastructure projects.
Under the funding program, the federal (40%), provincial (33%) and municipal (26.6%) governments would share the cost of a project that would have to be completed by March 2027.
Osmond is recommending the town apply for nearly $35-million in renovations at Alder.
Here is what’s being proposed:
- Pool expansion (6 to 8 lanes)
- Pool liner replacement (leisure pool)
- Replace water slide with indoor splash pad
- A third 35,000-square foot double ice pad
- Public library redesign
- Upgrade existing multi-purpose rooms
- Parking lot expansion and resurfacing
Councillor Grant Peters agreed council should seek the grant however, wanted to exclude upgrades to the library.
Peters didn’t want to apply for a project, then have council decide to trim it back and lose the grant because it didn’t meet criteria.
