On a day too wet to play either sport, new soccer and baseball facilities, along with a walking trail, were officially opened at the Clifford Rotary Park on Sept. 7.
A planned children’s carnival and trail walk were hampered by wet weather but, undaunted, organizers moved the ceremonies inside to the Clifford Rotary Pavilion.
The pavilion was recently expanded to include new washrooms, with the aid of a donation from the Great Lakes Truck Club, which hosts an annual show at the park.
The ball diamond and soccer fields were created on land purchased from the club by the Town of Minto.
However, as Rotarian Larry Grummett pointed out to municipal officials at the opening, “You’ll be getting pretty much all of that back” in the form of Rotary contributions to community betterment projects.
“Rotary is pleased to be able to work with the town and do what we do.”
It’s been a winding road that led to the new Sports facilities being created in the southeast corner of the village.
The land was slated for a residential development, but the town convinced the developer to swap the land for the former Clifford ballpark, where the development will now be built.
The move allowed the municipality to keep the recreational facilities all in one area.
The ball diamond and soccer field projects cost about $176,000, with the federal government providing $54,000 from the Community Infrastructure Investment Fund and the rest coming from the town and the Clifford Rotary Club.
The Clifford Recreation Association is currently fundraising to put up fencing and light standards at the new ball field. Walking trails at the park are a Rotary Club project.
“It just goes to show what happens in a small town when money is tight and you go through the steps, as we’ve done in this particular situation, and get all these groups together,” explained Mayor George Bridge, noting without volunteer labour by local citizens and organizations the facility would not have been possible.
Perth-Wellington MP Gary Schellenberger offered “congratulations to all the participants and volunteers who spearheaded the effort.”
Rotarian Vic Palmer noted Rotary members are working on moving a stand of recently planted trees around the park to provide shade and create a barrier between the park and neighbouring residential areas.
