Council supports Dresden athletic facility, see video

lkcs sports field

The applause was thunderous inside the Civic Centre tonight, April 28, after council unanimously supported the LKCS sports facility project in Dresden.

The crowd of about 84 people heard council approve funding for 25 per cent of the project ($134,500), which is estimated to cost upwards to $540,000.

Ian Avery, a teacher at Lambton-Kent Composite School and one of the leads with the Dresden Community Development Association, said he was thrilled with the approval. Watch him in the video below:

During a deputation to council, Avery pointed out five key areas where the community will benefot from the project, including:

– sports and recreation impact

– environmental impact

– inclusion

– civic engagement

– sustainability

Janice Wranich, also a teacher at LKCS and a lead organizer with the project, said during a deputation that their group wants to improve the “quality” and the “safety” of the facility.

North Kent Coun. Joe Faas, who entered the successful notice of motion, said the group brought forward an excellent business plan.

“The community and the Dresden area are behind this project,” Faas said.

East Kent Coun. Jim Brown said there is a group in Ridgetown doing a similar project at their high school.

“You can expect (a notice of motion) from the Ridgetown group,” Brown said.

South Kent Coun. Art Stirling said considering the Dresden community hosts the OLG Slots and has provided more than $8 million to the Chatham-Kent Municipal coffers, this project should be supported.

“Surely we can find $134,000 for a worthwhile cause,” he said.

Chatham Coun. Anne Gilbert said more money needed to be budgeted for “strategic reserves” each year, in order to fund these type of projects when they come up.

“I applaud everyone that has the guts and determination to tackle this kind of major fundraising project,” she said.

Avery said the project is going to be completed in three phases.

He added a handful of meetings are planned with a number of Dresden service group and organizations in the immediate future.

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