ST. CATHARINES — Across the country, Canadians are feeling the impacts of COVID-19 on their families, their livelihoods, and their way of life. Together, the governments of Canada and Ontario are taking decisive action to support families, businesses and communities to ensure community infrastructure is safe and reliable, while looking ahead to see what more can be done in these unprecedented times.
Today, Chris Bittle, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Member of Parliament for St. Catharines, on behalf of the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities; Sam Oosterhoff, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Education and Member of Provincial Parliament for Niagara West, on behalf of the Honourable Kinga Surma, Ontario’s Minister of Infrastructure; and His Worship Walter Sendzik, Mayor of the City of St. Catharines, announced joint funding for four recreational and community infrastructure projects in the Niagara Region.
The Government of Canada is investing over $2.4 million in these projects through the Community, Culture, and Recreation Stream of the Investing in Canada plan. The Government of Ontario is providing more than $2 million, while recipients are investing more than $1.6 million in their respective projects.
Among the projects announced are upgrades to the existing tennis courts and playground at Bogart Street Park in St. Catharines. This project involves renovating the tennis courts into a multi-use court to accommodate tennis, basketball and pickleball. The playground will be renovated to improve accessibility, while also relocating the play structure and changing the base from pea gravel to rubber. Once complete, this project will provide a more accessible and modern recreation space for residents to enjoy for years to come.
In Pelham, funding will support the rehabilitation of the Marlene Stewart Streit Park. This project includes the rehabilitation of the existing electrical systems and pool house, the replacement of the outdoor pool, a new splash pad and picnic pavilion, and various accessibility improvements to the pool, playground, and adjoining areas. Once complete, this project will improve the quality of Marlene Stewart Streit Park for the community, especially children and those with accessibility needs.
Additional investments in other recreational infrastructure projects across the region include renovations to the Wainfleet Community Complex, such as upgrades to the sports fields and renovations of the tennis courts, washrooms, and fencing. Also included in today’s announcement is the Play Space Resurfacing Project in the Town of Lincoln, which will help improve active living and provide modern recreation spaces for the community.
All orders of government continue to work together for the people of Ontario to make strategic infrastructure investments in communities across the province when needed most.