On Wednesday I wrote about the letter the City received committing $4 million from the Province to Oshawa for COVID-19 relief, as part of the larger $4 billion in funding for Ontario municipalities within the Safe Restart Agreement with the federal government.
Then 48 hours later, unfortunately Oshawa received word that the joint funding the City applied for in November 2019 to reconstruct Rotary Pool and Park, splash pads, and a new Historical Society archive building at Lakeview Park had not been successful.
The City submitted its application under the 'Community Culture and Recreation' Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program' (ICIP) funding stream which had $1 billion available in joint federal and provincial funding for qualified projects.
Council was informed Friday afternoon that Oshawa's application did NOT pass the first phase of the program selection process. The City Treasurer explained how competitive the process was, that the total intake of project applications reached almost $10 Billion.
On a promising note however, unlike the City's application, word is the Oshawa Library's application under the same program successfully passed the first phase of the selection process.
Here's hoping the Oshawa Library receive funds for its project. I am trying to find out more about what it involves. As a City Councillor I did not know the Oshawa Library had also submitted an application, but will be very pleased if it ultimately is successful.
The next step, how City Council will plan for the future of Rotary Pool and Park, is now still up in the air. I believe there is strong support for keeping it open. But it cannot safely be opened without major infrastructure money either to refurbish it for the short term or replace it for the longer term with a more accessible pool, change house, splash pad. It likely will be on the Agenda for the first Community Services Committee meeting scheduled for Sept 21st. Meanwhile, it would be good if the search is on for sponsorship money...Minto Rotary pool? Medallion Rotary Pool? Rocco Tullio Pool?...who might step forward and help?
Then 48 hours later, unfortunately Oshawa received word that the joint funding the City applied for in November 2019 to reconstruct Rotary Pool and Park, splash pads, and a new Historical Society archive building at Lakeview Park had not been successful.
The City submitted its application under the 'Community Culture and Recreation' Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program' (ICIP) funding stream which had $1 billion available in joint federal and provincial funding for qualified projects.
Council was informed Friday afternoon that Oshawa's application did NOT pass the first phase of the program selection process. The City Treasurer explained how competitive the process was, that the total intake of project applications reached almost $10 Billion.
On a promising note however, unlike the City's application, word is the Oshawa Library's application under the same program successfully passed the first phase of the selection process.
Here's hoping the Oshawa Library receive funds for its project. I am trying to find out more about what it involves. As a City Councillor I did not know the Oshawa Library had also submitted an application, but will be very pleased if it ultimately is successful.
The next step, how City Council will plan for the future of Rotary Pool and Park, is now still up in the air. I believe there is strong support for keeping it open. But it cannot safely be opened without major infrastructure money either to refurbish it for the short term or replace it for the longer term with a more accessible pool, change house, splash pad. It likely will be on the Agenda for the first Community Services Committee meeting scheduled for Sept 21st. Meanwhile, it would be good if the search is on for sponsorship money...Minto Rotary pool? Medallion Rotary Pool? Rocco Tullio Pool?...who might step forward and help?
