By Mark Squibb/February 24, 2022
St. John’s South-Mount Pearl MP and federal cabinet minister Seamus O’Regan was in and around the Southern Shore Tuesday morning announcing money for several recreation projects in the region.
Funding for Bay Bulls, Witless Bay, and Petty Harbour-Maddox Cove totaled just over $549,000. The money is budgeted under Ottawa’s Canada Community Revitalization Fund (CCRF).
The largest chunk of cash, $346,765, will go towards upgrades to the Bay Bulls Regional Lifestyle Centre, including roof repairs, air conditioning enhancements, and a new backup generator.
“The upgrades that we’re going to be doing with this announced funding is going to make sure that we have this building here for the Bay Bulls of tomorrow,” said Mayor Neil O’Brien. “It’s been here a good number of years now, but it does need a little bit of TLC.”
O’Brien grew up alongside the Lifestyle Centre.
“My dad, who is deceased now, grew up here and watched this whole area turn from a park into a great big recreation centre on his doorstep,” said O’Brien. “He was concerned about noise, but then after it opened, he changed his mind completely on how wonderful an asset it was to the town. He became the guard keeper of the fire hydrant, so please don’t park in front of the fire hydrant. He’ll get you from the grave now today.”
Recently, the Town asked for financial help from Witless Bay to cover the costs of some repairs, as the building is a regional facility. Witless Bay council denied that request, but left the door open for future discussions on how towns could work together on a regional approach to recreation.
“Regionalization is going to come — it’s going to have to come,” said O’Brien. “Down the road, we’re going to definitely see more of that, not just in this area but across the province.”
When asked about a future situation where Bay Bulls contributes to Witless Bay’s recreational facilities, such as the Puffin Centre, and vice versa, O’Brien said he could see it.
“We have two brand new councils between ourselves and the Town of Witless Bay, but we have been meeting and I definitely think we have a good sharing of ideas, so hopefully in the near future we will get together more and discuss things like that,” said O’Brien.
In Witless Bay, $120,00 will be put towards enhancing outdoor spaces, with a focus on improving accessibility. Upgrades include new playground equipment, ballfield renovations, and trail improvements.
Petty Harbour-Maddox Cove received just over $82,000 for numerous projects including creation of additional green space, new outdoor seating, a splash pad, upgrades to the Sara Chafe Memorial Playground, including park entry paving and a wheelchair ramp, and picnic tables.
