The Lamont Sports Park committee has blown past its fundraising goal.
Vice Deputy Mayor and Committee Co-Chair Mike Myatt says they are planning on announcing the funds to council at Monday’s meeting.
“Our initial goal for Lamont Sports Park was $1 million. We increased that goal to $1.5 million and on Monday night, we will be announcing $1.7 million. We are ecstatic. With the extra funds raised, we will be able to some extra things at Lamont Sports Park for the community, and it has just been a tremendous success,” says Myatt.
Myatt says when they attend council, it is to inform them of the successful fundraising and to move forward with conceptual drawings.
The $1.7 million raised would cover two youth ball diamonds, an accessible play ground, a storage building for minor baseball equipment, two minor league batting cages, and a community pavilion.
“This is going to be a regional park for all of Grey and Bruce, but one of the finest in southwestern Ontario. It will be a showcase facility, and we are just really thrilled with how the fundraising campaign has gone,” says Myatt.
Committee Co-Chair Robert Stanley previously hinted at the possibility of a phase three for the park.
Myatt says, however, that would have to be something the next council would look at.
“There has really been very little talk about phase three, there will have to be a feasibility study and community consultations. We really don’t know what phase three is going to look like yet,” says Myatt.
Myatt says the goal is to get shovels in the ground for the new ball diamonds, accessible playground, and other amenities in spring or summer in 2023 and a ribbon cutting ceremony in 2024 or 2025.
This comes as the campaign recently received $65,000 from two unions.
The Power Workers Union donated $55,000 to fund one of two accessible connectors from the Saugeen Rail Trail to the park, while the local International Brotherhood of Boilermakers donated $10,000.
