Ontario Premier Doug Ford visited the Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre in Oakville today, announcing a three-year, $200 million expansion fund for sports and recreation facilities across the province.
The new Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund was announced in the 2024 Budget: Building a Better Ontario.
While Oakville was home to the press conference, no word was said how many of that $200 million (if any) will be committed to spending in Oakville itself. Even so, Oakville was chosen for the announcement to highlight projects like the Sixteen Mile Sports Complex in north Oakville - a community centre currently undergoing significant enhancements.
Read more here: New fields now open at Sixteen Mile Sports Complex
“Ontario’s new Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund will transform and expand recreational facilities across the province, creating jobs and fostering healthier and more active lifestyles for families,” said Premier Ford.
According to a news release from the province, funding will be delivered through two streams:
- Repairing and upgrading existing sports and recreation facilities into more accessible, state-of-the-art facilities that better suit the community’s needs.
- Building new and transformative sports and recreation facilities, including replacing existing facilities that have reached the end of their lifespan and are beyond repair.
"Our government is listening to Ontarians and we want to ensure that new and upgraded facilities remain the heart of communities across this province for decades to come," said Neil Lumsden, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport.
"Not only will families benefit from better access to places to play, modern sport and recreation facilities will allow communities to host provincial, national and international events and competitions, attracting more visitors and good-paying jobs."
Applications will be accepted from municipalities, Indigenous communities, and non-profit organizations. The Ontario government says further details regarding eligibility criteria and application guidelines will be available in Summer 2024.
"Community centres and recreation facilities give people of all ages a safe place to come together, laugh, play and get the most out of their local community," said Peter Bethlenfalvy, Minister of Finance.
"Our government will continue building the infrastructure needed to support growing communities, and investing in the well-being of children, families and seniors across the province."
Update: a previous version of this story incorrectly said the press conference took place at Sixteen Mile Sports Complex.