Quarter million given for fitness expansion
The federal government presented a matching grant of $240,000 to the City for the Family Recreation Centre
Pitt Meadows Mayor Deb Walters and MP Randy Kamp were trying out the fitness equipment on Friday in the Pitt Meadows Family Recreation Centre’s weight room, which will triple in size.
Photograph by: Maria Rantanen , TIMES
The fitness room at Pitt Meadows Family Recreation Centre will be tripled in size thanks to a federal grant.
The federal government is giving a grant of about $240,000, which the City of Pitt Meadows plans to match dollar for dollar, in order to expand the weight and fitness room into the multi-purpose room.
A new multi-purpose room will be built where the seniors currently have their lounge area after a new seniors facility is opened at Wesbrooke.
The family recreation centre turned 10 last year, and Pitt Meadows Mayor Deb Walters called it the "heart and soul of the civic centre."
"Today's funding announcement will help us repurpose and enhance the interior spaces in order to improve accessibility and expand recreational programming," she said at Friday's announcement.
The federal grant comes from Community Infrastructure Improvement Fund, and the matching Pitt Meadows dollars need to be approved during the upcoming budget process.
The funds were approved in February by Pitt Meadows council for 2013, and needs to be reconfirmed in the 2013-2017 five-year financial plan bylaw.
The weight room is currently crowded in the early mornings and afternoons, as well as evenings, said Don Cramb, Pitt Meadows recreation manager with parks and leisure services, and it's difficult for wheelchairs to move around the equipment.
"People with mobility issues have problems getting around," Cramb said of the current weight and fitness room.
The plans and layout are already drawn p, and Cramb estimated t would take about eight onths to do the renova-ions.
They are hoping to keep the facilities open during renovations, he added.
Walters thanked member of Parliament Randy Kamp for the funding, pointing out the City has received $3 million in the past two years.
"This has afforded us opportunities to proceed with such worthwhile projects as the artificial turf field at Pitt Meadows Secondary School, the South Bonson Community Centre, and upgrades to our community arena," she said.
The seniors plan to have their Christmas dinner at the family recreation centre's seniors lounge, and then they plan to move into The Wesbrooke facility, which will make way for the new multipurpose room.
The new seniors facility in Pitt Meadows will be 9,500 square feet in size with a large hall and stage, billiard room, arts and crafts room, and a lounge.
