MD Gives Funds to local Recreation

Council approves $508,000 in Budget towards Recreation.

The Municipal District (MD) of Bonnyville has approved funding to three local recreation related facilities, groups, and events. MD Council approved $150,000 to the Bonnyville Golf & Country Club, $240,000 to Walsh Field and $8,000 to Extreme Mudfest. Council also approved annual operating grants to many local halls and $30,000 to build a playground at the Beaverdam Community Hall.

The money to the golf course will assist in the club replacing the irrigation system. The original ask from the golf course was $150,000 a year over five years, Council opted to instead go with a one-time payment of $150,000. The club has also approached the Town of Bonnyville and asked for $40,000; the decision on that ask has yet to go before Town Council. Other ways the club hopes to fund the irrigation system is through self-fundraising; such as sponsorships and grants. Reeve for the MD, Ed Rondeau, says through discussion, Council agreed that the first year was important to help get the golf course going.

Council voted to approve $240,000 to the Walsh Field project to help replace the running track and the internal field to go to an astro-turf field. The project comes with a multi-million dollar price tag. Fortunately, there is an anonymous donor that will be taking care of a large portion of the funds needed to complete the project. Council was asked to donate towards the track at a cost of $480,000. Through budget deliberations, Council approved $240,000 towards the Walsh Field project, specifically aimed at the track.

“These are investments into the community,” says Reeve Rondeau, “they’re going to be of economic value to the region. It’s important that we [help fund these projects]; especially if it means a community having or not having these [facilities].” Rondeau explains in the case of Walsh Field, the upgrades are needed for Bonnyville to host sanctioned track meets, soccer games, and football matches. “There’s very few of these, outside of major cities, that have [sanctioned tracks]. It’s going to be of value to have Walsh Field and should bring a lot of people to the area during the season.”

Extreme Mudfest requested the same amount of money that the MD had donated the year before, $8,000; which was approved by Council. T

The Ardmore Senior Citizen’s Club received its $25,000 Annual Operating Grant. The Beaverdam Community Society received a contribution of $25,000 to build at new $30,000 playground at the community hall. The Society has $5,000 put aside for the project. The Cold Lake Agricultural Society received its $20,000 Annual Operating Grant. North Shore Heights/Shay Cho Bay Community Society received it $5,000 Annual Operating Grant.