New town committee formed to help raise funds

Melissa Strle
Times Reporter

 

At the Town of Strathmore council meeting on Aug. 3, a bylaw was created to approve the formation of a new Recreation and Parks Enhancement Committee.
The new committee is designed to help raise funds for recreation and parks development around the Town of Strathmore.
The committee will serve as a tool that allows for the provision of applying for such grants since the Town of Strathmore does not have that type of provision.
According to Tracy Simpson, recreation coordinator for the Town of Strathmore, the purpose of the Recreation and Parks Enhancement Committee will be to work collaboratively with town administration and council, community stakeholders and associations to build a fund development program to assist in the creation of recreational opportunities and park development for the residents of Strathmore.
“There are lots of funds provided by private enterprises, non-profits and government bodies that a municipality isn’t eligible for, and so by creating a society we will be able to access those funds,” said Simpson.
Funds will be raised by applying for special grants with certain institutions, such as Alberta Lotteries grant funding and casino funding.
Simpson stated the committee “could reach potential funding sources that we’ve never been able to utilize in the past.”
Previously, the outdoor rink in Strathmore received a community infrastructure enhancement grant through Alberta Lotteries. But there has never been funding for any town-specific projects, so that is the reason for creating the new committee.
Parks, pathways and other projects will be slated for improvements, and the committee will identify areas where they want to raise money.
“So the first project may be, and I don’t know for sure, but it may be helping raise money for the fieldhouse that we are building. Or they may identify a section of pathway that’s important and isn’t slated on the plans for a few years and they want to see funds,” said Simpson.
The committee is hoping to alleviate asking taxpayers to fund these types of projects.
“If we can raise funding from these sources, then we can do more parks and rec development without always going to our tax base to pay for them,” she said. “There will be extra dollars to create more infrastructure without paying for it through tax dollars.”
Simpson says they hope to recruit at least a six-to-seven-member board, but this number could reach as high as 12. To become involved with the Recreation and Parks Enhancement Committee, contact Tracy Simpson at the Town of Strathmore.