Dresden community project on council docket

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Council will decide on Monday (April 28) if they are backing a major community project in Dresden.

A vote will take place around the horseshoe whether council will commit $134,500 (25%) towards an upgrade to the Lambton-Kent Composite School sports field.

Ian Avery, a teacher at LKCS who is one of the people spearheading the project for the Dresden Community Development Association, said the $540,000 project would include two new irrigated soccer fields, a baseball diamond, a 400m asphalt track, bathroom/storage facilities and a 1.1 km extension of the Trillium Trail.

Avery said they are encouraging parents and kids with Dresden Minor Soccer and Dresden Minor Baseball to come to the council chambers on Monday night, in uniform, to show their support.

Avery added when the project is completed it will benefit 255 kids in Dresden Minor Soccer, 200 kids in Dresden Minor Baseball, 55 kids in Branch 113 Legion Track and Field, Countless community runners and walkers, LKCS students, elementary feeder schools and more.

North Kent Coun. Joe Faas brought forward a notice of motion at the last regular council meeting, aksing for the support of council.

“It’s a true community project,” he said. “Local organizations have agreed to partner with them. Sometimes it takes the municipality to be a lead.”

Faas said a number of Dresden groups has endorsed the project and they are looking into multiple sources for potential funds, including:

– Jays Care Field of Dreams Grant

– MLSE Team Up Grant

– Ministry of Education Physical Education in Secondary Schools Grant

– Ontario Trillium Foundation Grant

– North Kent Mutual Fire Insurance Company

– Farm Credit Canada AgriSpirit Fund

The Lambton-Kent District School Board has already committed $50,000 to the project.

Staff is proposing the funds be allocated this year and next year from a combination of the community partnership fund, the social assistance restructuring program and the health and family services year end, in council approves the funding.

The council meeting takes place at 6 p.m. at the Civic Centre in Chatham.

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