Upgraded Recreation Area Approved Despite Precedent Setting Concerns

The OK was given by Executive Committee to enhance the green space at West Park subdivision but it was not without some discussion as to whether or not the City was setting some dangerous precedents when it came to approving the recreation area upgrades.

Under the proposal the West Park neighbourhood would receive some major upgrades to its recreation area. The upgrades would include an accessible spray park, an outdoor basketball court which converts into an outdoor skating rink in the winter, irrigation enhancements, and outdoor pavillion, park benches and garbage receptacles, pathway connections and signage.

The total costs of the improvements is $372,700. Under an agreed to formula the West Park Community Association would contribute 49 percent or $182,700 with the City’s 51 percent share or $190,000 funded from the Parks Dedication Reserve established for West Park.

The Communtiy Association’s share would be through community fundraising, local service club sponsorship, grants and in-kind contributions.

The fundrising component would total $38,600 of which $20,000 has already been raised.

Local service sponsorship would consist of a $100,000 donation from the Kinsmen Club in exchange for naming rights. The Kinsmen would contribute $10,000 annually over a ten year period.

A second unnamed service culb is looking at donating $10,000 in exchange for naming rights elsewhere in the recreation area.

The Kinette Club would donate a $10,000 grant to pay for the costs to make the spray park and playground accessible.

Local contractors would contribute $24,100 in in-kind donations as part of the proposal.

As part of the deal the West Park Community Association is responsible for the installation and maintenance of the outdoor rink woth the City only supplying the water and the electricity.

West Park Recfreation Area Enhancements - source City of Moose Jaw report

Parks and recreation director Derek Blais said the department had worked closely with the West Park Community Association to come up with the proposal.

Blais justifed the project by stating the West Park neighbourhood had more people under the age of 19 than the East End of the city which received a new spray park that has seen heavy use.

Councillor Brian Swanson said although he applauded the work by the community association to make the project a reality he was worried about the precedents it set when it came to dealing with other neighbourhoods and what they might request from the City.

“Do you think this sets up some unique precedents? Why concrete?” Councillor Swanson asked.

Blais said it was due to the fact the community association was able to get better rated than the usual asphalt surface used for outdoor basketball courts.

Councillor Swanson would later express concerns about the future maintenance concerns and costs the City would face for a cement pad versus an asphalt one because ince constructed the facility would become City property and their responsibility to maintain.

To facilitate the funding concept Councillor Swanson asked if the proposal was not against the City’s purchasing policy because it was a sole searched project, Sole searched means the project would not be put out as a tender for qualified firms to bid on.

Blais said any part of the proposal which violated the purchasing policy would come back to Council for approval.

The funding proposal which was over multiple years raised concerns because other community associations or neighbourhood seeking park upgrades under a cost sharing formula had to have their funds raised before the project proceeded.

“I can appreciate the residents having an enhanced park it always use to be we had to have the cash in hand,” he said. “(A total of ) $90,000 will come in over nine years but yet you have to spend it this year…other neighbourhoods have to have cash in hand.”

“When we treat one neighbourhood one way we should treat all neighbourhoods the same way,” he said.

It was revealed the community association at best would have $60,000 this year of their $182,700 share and the City would have to finance the remainder as the total $372.700 would have to be spent this summer to finish the upgraded recreational area.

Councillor Dawn Luhning said she supported the cooperative proposal.

“Honestly this looks to me like a true community partnership and we should be proud of it,” Councillor Luhning said.

Mayor Fraser Tolmie said the City was “in the business of building a better community…when an opportunity like this comes forward it is a positive way to get kids out and active.”

In a 6 - 1 vote, with Councillor Swanson opposed, the upgraded recreation was approved.