With a little assistance from the municipality of Grey Highlands, the Markdale Golf and Curling Club will soon be more accessible to all residents.
“Construction has begun,” says Michael Shainline, manager of the Markdale Golf and Curling Club. “We are so thankful that the Grey Highlands council recognized the importance of this project. We want to be an accessible and inclusive club, not just for our great members but for everyone in the community.
The club, which describes itself as a 12-month-a-year focal point for the community, recently applied to the municipality of Grey Highlands for the Community Improvement Plan, in order to revamp the entranceway to its building.
“The main walkway has become dangerous with loose and uneven stones and wooden retaining walls that are currently rotting and soon will no longer support the earth they were originally intended to hold back,” states the application.
The club outlined its plans for council, which include: removing the current pathway; re-grading the west wall of the clubhouse ground and removing a tree stump for proper drainage; installing a new, wider concrete walkway that will approach the doorway with a gradual ramp; installing a proper retaining wall across the entire west wall and walkway; and replanting and improving gardens post-construction.
The municipality of Grey Highlands council approved the club’s application, granting up to $7,500 or 50 per cent of eligible project costs.
“This building has been here a long time, before accessibility was really an issue as it is today,” said mayor Paul McQueen, during the June 3 council meeting. “So, this is certainly good to see.”
The building was constructed in 1964, and since that time a lot has changed for recreational facilities in terms of accessibility, according to Shainline.
“The Accessible Canada Act (ACA), which was passed last June, has outdoor recreation facilities being a priority in terms of compliance,” he explains. “This furthers the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, which was passed in 2005 to 'improve accessibility standards for Ontarians with physical and mental disabilities to all public establishments by 2025.'”
In the club’s application, it is noted that management may also consider installing an automatic door in the future, once financials allow for it.
“Improving the accessibility of the club was at the top of our to-do list this year,” says Shainline. “The Grey Highlands is home to so many people from different walks of life - we can now confidently provide access to anyone who wants to use our facilities, including golf, curling, tennis, pickleball or simply to enjoy a beverage on our patio with friends or family,”
Over the past fiscal year, the club also invested $70,000 in a new roof and installed LED lighting for environmental and financial reasons.
