$235,000 investment in parks, ball diamonds and bathrooms

Maple Creek News Maple Creek’s parks, ball diamonds and bathrooms are to be upgraded through a $235,000 investment. The money from the federal Canada Community-Building Fund (CCBF), formerly known as the Gas Tax Fund, was originally earmarked for replacing highway signs. However, Maple Creek Town Council accepted a recommendation from the Community Planning Development and... Read More »

Maple Creek News Maple Creek’s parks, ball diamonds and bathrooms are to be upgraded through a $235,000 investment. The money from the federal Canada Community-Building Fund (CCBF), formerly known as the Gas Tax Fund, was originally earmarked for replacing highway signs. However, Maple Creek Town Council accepted a recommendation from the Community Planning Development and Culture Committee to reallocate the funds after complaints about the ball diamonds.

Council also wanted to provide better seating for spectators. Speaking at the June 24 regular meeting, Councillor Mike Stork said parents had voiced concerns that the physical state of the diamonds posed a danger to players. “We wanted to increase the safety for the young players on those ball diamonds and so we are making a significant investment into the infields of those diamonds, as well as the Council wishes to have some more permanent seating at all of the diamonds and this nearly quarter of a million dollars is essentially what that is going towards.”

Councillor Betty Abbott said she was pleased to see the funds reallocated. “I think that it is going to be well spent.” Councillor Tina Cresswell also supported the reallocation, saying that a couple from Finland with two daughters had recently asked her to recommend a playground.

“I sent them to Lions Park. I will be really glad when we do some good improvements to that park ...” Michelle McKenzie, the mayor, agreed.

According to the Saskatchewan government website, the CCBF will provide funding over 10 years to support municipalities in the province. The CCBF allocation is an estimated $350.3 million over the first five years from 2024-25 to 2028-29. The federal CCBF program is administered by the provincial government in Saskatchewan.

Allocations to municipalities are on a per capita basis, and thoses for 2024-25 to 2028-29 are based on 2021 Census figures. Allocations for 2029-30 to 2033-34 will be based on 2026 Census figures. If a municipality’s allocation resulting from population size is less than $2,000, the municipality’s allocation is set at $2,000.

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