Grey Highlands council has voted to work with the Rotary Club of Markdale to provide financial assistance for the club’s plans at a local park.
Rotary Club members Lyall Ratcliffe and Doug Dickie were a delegation at council’s meeting on July 6 to request council consider providing financial support for ongoing work at Rotary Park in Markdale.
The club plans to install a fully accessible wheelchair pathway at the park, as well as continue work on a general path/trail to the new bridge at the park to the new Stan Baker Pavilion.
“We hope this project can move ahead with your help,” said Ratcliffe.
The club has received a $23,000 grant for the work and asked for an in-kind donation from the municipality of equipment and operators to help complete the project. In total, it cost approximately $57,800.
Dickie also explained that several years ago the club was working on signing an Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the municipality, which would have provided set annual funding amounts for work at the park. If it had been signed, the MOU would have provided $17,500 in funding over the past five years.
Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic hit and everything was put on hold. The club is hoping the MOU can be signed in the future and the funding it would have provided earlier can be received.
Members of council were receptive to supporting the club and passed a resolution directing staff to work with Rotary on an updated MOU and to make the arrangements for the work to be done at Rotary Park.
“Thanks for everything you do for the community and all your hard work,” said Mayor Paul McQueen.
