Residents here are rallying to help redevelop their community park.
Close to 300 people raised almost $16,000 during a recent barbecue at the Marian Hall in Freelton – located south of Puslinch Township – to help fund the project.
Specifically, the redevelopment of the Freelton Community Park will include a 50- by 100-foot concrete play surface that can be used for basketball, ball hockey or roller blading in the summer and skating in the winter.
The plan will also include an accessible canteen with a meeting room, change rooms, washrooms and vending machines.
The local Lions Club is organizing the fundraising drive and came up with the idea for the redevelopment about two years ago.
The City of Hamilton, which purchased the park property in 2009, has committed $80,000 this year for the design of the park.
The city is expected to make an additional $450,000 commitment next year, which may be contingent on receiving grant funding.
The Lions Club and city hope to break ground on the park redevelopment by next summer.
In the meantime the club will continue its fundraising efforts, which officials say have been strongly supported by the Freelton community.
Anyone wanting to make a donation can call club president and project chair Ken Henderson at 905-659-7671.
