By Mark Squibb \ April 21, 2023
Things are getting brighter for folks in Bay Bulls— literally.
The provincial government last week at a special event in Mount Pearl announced some $2 million in funding in Building Age Friendly Communities grants, a one-time grant designed to help municipalities make upgrades to better accommodate seniors.
Earlier this year, Bay Bulls had requested funding for solar lights along the Long Pond walking trail to the tune of $27,700. Minus the GST/HST rebate, the cost comes to $18,130, of which government will pay $16,320. The Town of Bay Bulls will be on the hook for only $1,810.
Council agreed to accept the funding arrangement during last week’s public meeting, and also agreed to submit a Gas Tax Capital Investment Plan application to the Gas Tax Secretariat in the amount of $7,300 for the project.
Town Manager Jennifer Aspell said that work is expected to begin once the weather clears up.
Work on the design began in 2020 and the trail will be a combination of compacted granular and boardwalk with a focus on accessibility.
Phase I of the project was cost shared by the federal, provincial, and municipal governments under a Municipal Capital Works program, with each government paying a third of the cost, which works out to $143,702 each for a total of $475,444 (less HST). Phase II is valued at $144,229, and of that cost, the Town only has to contribute 10 per cent — $14,422. The rest of the cost of Phase II was covered by provincial COVID stimulus funding.
