$380,000 OTF Community Development Grant Allows for Needed Improvements to Township Parks

Township of Elizabethtown-Kitley – On Thursday, October 19th, local MPP Steve Clark, Elizabethtown-Kitley Mayor Brant Burrow, and Councillor Rob Smith met with Township staff and community members to unveil the new structures and upgrades made as a result of the $380,000 Community Building Fund – Capital stream grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF).

The grant was used to make repairs and upgrades to three Township parks: Blaine Healey Park, Clifford E. Hall Park and Douglas A. Scott Jr. Memorial Park. The project was completed in late August 2023 and will give people in the community access to improved functionality and accessibility within local park facilities, as well as enhanced overall aesthetics.

“Sports and recreation bring communities together, promote healthy lifestyles and enhance the quality of life of our residents,” said Steve Clark, MPP for Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes. “I’m proud to celebrate the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s investment to upgrade recreational facilities in the Township of Elizabethtown-Kitley, helping to ensure they remain accessible to people of all ages for years to come.”

In addition to the new pavilions, new dugouts, and upgraded bleachers, in Blaine Healey Park and Clifford E Hall Park, modifications were made to existing washroom facilities in Douglas A. Scott Jr Memorial Park. The parks are used by the community at large, as well as a variety of community organizations such as the Kitley Friday Night Co-ed League, Lyn Minor Ball Association, and Greenbush Men’s League. Thanks to the $380,000 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the community will be able to enjoy these parks for many years to come.

“The Ontario Trillium Fund grant has brought new life to outdated facilities and given the Township the ability to provide the community with welcoming, accessible, and beautified spaces,” said Jennifer Wood, Recreation and Operations Coordinator for the Township of Elizabethtown-Kitley. “Our intention is to provide everyone with a place to come and enjoy. We want to be able to serve all demographics within our community, and by building these new pavilions and upgrading the sporting infrastructure, we feel as though we taking positive steps towards accomplishing this.”

The Township of Elizabethtown-Kitley is committed to the upkeep and preservation of these park improvements, ensuring that they remain a community focal point, open to all, now and in the future. If you wish to enquire about any of these park spaces, please visit the website at: https://ektwp.ca/government/recreation/ or contact recreation@ektwp.ca

The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF), an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations celebrates 40 years of grant-making in Ontario and making a lasting impact in communities. Last year, OTF invested over $110M into 1,022 community projects and partnerships. Visit otf.ca to learn more.