Decision deferred on potential H. Murray Smith Centennial Park upgrades

The most recent approved plan for H. Murray Smith Centennial Park is seen here. Town council has deferred any decision on potential upgrades and additions to the park.

Proposed upgrades to H. Murray Smith Centennial Park weren’t likely to happen this year, and town council has put off a decision on exactly what those upgrades will be.

Town council has already set aside $530,000 for the park with a goal of putting in new tennis courts and multi-use courts. 

The Town of Amherstburg applied for grant funding from the provincial Ministry of Sport but found out June 3 the application was not approved for funding.

With no provincial funding coming this time around, options listed in a report from director of parks, facilities and recreation Heidi Baillargeon were to used the $530,000 on one tennis court and one multi-use court, two tennis courts, two multi-use courts, an accessible pathway around the park or to construct half of the parking lot at H. Murray Smith Centennial Park.

In the end, town council chose none of the above.

The matter was deferred until the 2026 budget instead, where the possibility of adding more funding exists or searching out additional money elsewhere.   Councillor Peter Courtney made the motion to defer, stating his belief it is an important issue at one of the town’s most talked about parks. 

Courtney wanted whatever work that is to be done to be undertaken properly and pointed out the report from Baillargeon said “there is a risk that this project will not be completed until 2026 due to the timing of the announcement and time required to draft plans and tenders, go through the necessary consultation with Committees of Council and tender construction of the project before poor weather sets in. This is considered possible and likely to occur.”

Courtney stated he wanted to give administration adequate time to seek out any potential third-party partnerships to assist offsetting costs.

Councillor Don McArthur agreed, also pointing out the timing issue. He said there is little chance of the improvements happening this year anyway and wanted to delay it until budget deliberations. He said there are possible economies of scale if they can build additional courts or other amenities at once.

“At budget time, you are going to get more bang for your buck,” said McArthur.

McArthur added he doesn’t want to see the project done in a piecemeal fashion.

“It’s not going to happen this year so why make a decision tonight?” he said during Monday night’s meeting.

Councillor Diane Pouget said the park has been neglected and wanted to see upgrades. She believed the town can try again for grant funding but wanted to ensure the money already budgeted stays earmarked for H. Murray Smith Centennial Park. 

Mayor Michael Prue said the money would stay in a reserve and spent on the park at a later time.

Decision deferred on potential H. Murray Smith Centennial Park upgrades

By Ron Giofu