The Recreational Infrastructure Canada program is a federal infrastructure fund that will invest $500 million in recreational facilities across Canada over a two-year period – starting this spring. Created to provide a temporary economic stimulus while renewing, upgrading and expanding recreational infrastructure.
The City of Toronto outlined in a recent staff report on March 20, 2009, it’s intention to explore the use of this fund to find cost effective ways the City of Toronto can finance the construction of new or expanded recreation facilities for multi-sports activities.
Their statement contents two important directional indicators, the city appears to want to take concerning recreation facilities.
1) To increase the move to multi-purpose recreation facilities instead of stand alone, single-purpose facilities.
text outtake from staff report…
In such facilities, rinks, pools, gymnasiums and tracks may be accommodated in one single building, providing economies of scale in terms of staffing, parking and utilities.
2) “to replace it’s aging infrastructure and to provide economies of scale and increased revenue opportunities“
Eligible projects under the federal governments fifty-fifty cost share initiative
- Arenas, gymnasia, swimming pools or sports fields;
- Tennis, basketball, volleyball or other sport-specific courts;
- Parks, fitness trails or bike paths; and
- Other multi-purpose physical recreation facilities.
…will also:
- Normally be for the rehabilitation or repair of recreational facilities;
- Begin and materially conclude construction before March 31, 2011; and,
- Be incremental, i.e. projects would not have occurred, as proposed, without support from RInC
Staff report City of Toronto [opens in new window]
Recreational Infrastructure Canada Program [opens in new window]
