OTTAWA – There may be a new hope on the horizon for the Mount Forest pool, thanks to a new infrastructure fund from the province.
“They want projects that are shovel-ready,” said Wellington North Mayor Andy Lennox.
The new Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund was included as part of the province’s 2024 budget released in the spring, but details of the program were announced in August during the Association of Municipalities of Ontario(AMO) conference in Ottawa.
“The launch of this new fund is one more way our government is helping to build stronger communities where people can live, work, play and thrive,” Minister of Sport Neil Lumsden stated in a news release about the fund.
“Participation in sport and recreation offers many benefits, and by extending the lifespan of local spaces and supporting the construction of new facilities, we’re ensuring that youth, seniors, families and all Ontarians will have the opportunity to stay active in their community for decades to come.”
The $200-million program has two funding streams available: one for repairing and upgrading existing sports and recreation facilities to make them more accessible, and another for building new facilities, including replacing existing facilities that have reached the end of their lifespan.
The first stream will provide funding amounts of between $150,000 and $1 million and projects must be completed within 24 months. The second stream will provide up to $10 million for eligible projects that must be completed no later than March 31, 2027.
The Lion Roy Grant Community Pool in Mount Forest has been closed since 2022, after township council opted not to spend the estimated $200,000 needed to repair deficiencies in the pool in order to get it open for the season.
With plans and fundraising already underway for a new outdoor pool to be built next to the Mount Forest sports complex, council chose to direct that money toward the new pool.
But with an estimated project cost of more than $5.5 million, it has not been clear when work on the new pool might be able to begin.
Lennox said he had the opportunity to meet with Lumsden to talk about the Mount Forest pool during the AMO conference.
“They basically told us ‘this is exactly the kind of project we’re looking for,’” said Lennox.
Municipalities are eligible to receive up to 50 per cent of project costs to a maximum of $10 million. Successful recipients and their partners must cover all the remaining project expenses.
Fundraising is already underway to cover $2.5 million of the expected cost of Mount Forest’s new pool, with taxation covering the balance of the cost, but so far only a fraction of that $2.5 million has been raised. If the township’s funding application is successful, it would alleviate the fundraising burden, Lennox said.
Though Lennox said he expects many communities will apply for the funding, he is optimistic about Wellington North’s chances.
“I believe we’re an excellent candidate,” he said.
