Date: 2010/01/18

Byline: Allison Vail

Town gets $1 million for sport fields

Ladysmith received $1 million from the federal government on Friday for sports fields.

James Lunney, the MP for Nanaimo-Alberni, was at the Aggie Hall Jan. 15 to announce the funds from the Recreational Infrastructure Canada program.

The money will be used to help build a fully lit artificial turf sports field, washrooms and change rooms, a children’s play area, exercise track and a parking lot.

The artificial field will allow the community to host a multitude of activities year round, Lunney said at the announcement.

The sports field development is at the northwest end of Fourth Avenue, where a new manufactured home park is also being built.

Ladysmith Mayor Rob Hutchins said he has been dreaming about building the park for a long time.

Noting it has been 16 years in the making.

Hutchins said the town had to negotiate years ago with Timberwest for the 23 acres of land on the edge of town for a sports complex. Finally, seven years later in 2001 the town had a boundary expansion, was able to rezone the property and alter the covenants on the land.