Grey Highlands is supporting the Eugenia District Community Improvement Association in its plan to build a new pavilion at the park.
Council heard from the association’s Chair Ron Barnett and Project Lead Don Alp during its meeting on Aug. 2.
“Our project goals are to replace the aging pavilion, which has seen its day, and build a larger, more useful building for the community. One that could enclose a meeting room with a covered picnic area and a room with a serving window for use during events, not only for Gold Rush or for Winter Family Day, but also for family reunions, picnics, and community gatherings. A facility that could potentially be rented out for public use,” says Barnett.
He adds the project also includes a plumbing rough-in for the construction of a possible washroom, which will be determined at a later date, as well as an upgraded electrical system for interior and exterior lighting.
The project is designed to be completed in two stages, with the excavation, construction and plumbing rough-in to be completed this year, and installing windows and exterior doors, insulation, drywall, electrical wiring and lights to be completed in 2024.
Barnett says this is a project their group has been working on the past three years.
“It’s been a long road dealing with the pandemic, supply chain issues and inflation, gathering resources and putting all of our ducks in a row, but we are finally ready to move on this project and we are super excited to get started,” says Barnett.
Barnett says through fundraising, they were able to cover the costs of the first phase of the project.
“With your blessing we are ready to go. What we are also asking, is that the municipality consider covering the costs of stage two. That would be to add a budget item for this project added to the 2024 budget that allows us to proceed at an approximate cost of $25,000,” says Barnett.
Council approved the first phase’s building permit fees be covered by the municipality, staff work with the association to proceed with the works and to include $26,000 for the second phase of the plan for 2024 budget consideration.
The goal is to work on phase one this October and wrap the project up with phase two in the spring of 2024.
