More funding allocated for H. Murray Smith Centennial Park

Amherstburg Town Hall.

Town council has nearly doubled the amount earmarked for upgrades to H. Murray Smith Centennial Park as part of the 2026 budget, with the aim to improve the park next year.

There was already over $500,000 from the 2025 budget that, thanks in part to the town not getting a provincial grant, went unused. Thanks to a pair of motions to redirect money from other capital budget items, $450,000 were put towards H. Murray Smith Centennial Park.

Another $50,000 will come from AODA compliance funding.

Councillor Peter Courtney worked with administration on the issue and came to the second day of budget deliberations with a motion to take $200,000 that was identified in the budget for an enhancement to the Libro Centre trail and redirect it to H. Murray Smith Centennial Park.

Courtney told the River Town Times the park has always been important to him. Between the funding unused from 2025 and the new funding redirected towards the park, he said $1,030,000 are now earmarked for park redevelopment.

“It’s a good move,” said Courtney. “It’s a feel-good thing.”

Courtney recalled the private sector and community as a whole helping to build the park to begin with. He believed things are coming full circle. While not wanting to overstep any procurement process that may have to take place, Courtney envisioned “history repeating itself” when it comes to the park.

“It’s kind of like a phoenix rising from the ashes,” he said.

While a report is coming back from director of parks, facilities and recreation Heidi Baillargeon, Courtney noted the Russell Renaud Hill will stay “in all its glory.” He added there was no impact to the 2026 budget, which came in with a 2.86 per cent tax rate increase, as it was redirecting money already pre-committed in the capital budget.

During last Tuesday’s budget deliberations, Courtney noted council held on to the funding from last year once the town’s grant application came through. Baillargeon said there was $530,000 approved last year and she noted money could be moved around this year. Baillargeon said there was $15,000 left over in a parking fund and $50,000 for AODA compliance in the budget.

Baillargeon said sports courts could be added, and possibly a trail system. 

Courtney called H. Murray Smith Centennial Park the “epicentre” for many kids growing up through the years, adding he vowed to get amenities back there. 

“This is just doing the right thing to this park that has offered so much to so many families. It’s centrally located, it was heavily used,” he said. “We’ve done many things at the Libro (Centre) and that whole sports complex is built on certain sports. This one will bring something to so many within walking distance.”

Courtney said “this seems very doable” and it was be another thing “that we’ve accomplished.” 

Baillargeon said the $200,000 that had been previously budgeted for the Libro Centre trails was to be for a boardwalk out into Big Creek, but she said that wasn’t a high priority right now as there is a deficiency in sports courts in Amherstburg.

“The trail around the Libro Centre has been hugely successful as people use it all the time. In terms of priority, now that the (parks) master plan has been completed, I think the sports courts and addressing some things in H. Murray Smith Centennial Park would be prudent in terms of addressing accessibililty. It’s in the centre of the community. I think it’s money well spent,” she added.

Councillor Molly Allaire said she was proud to support the motion, and asked about the report. Baillargeon said estimates and additional planning have to be done, and a report will give council an idea of what the money will cover.

Allaire said Jack Purdie Park is busy even in the winter, and envisioned the same thing at H. Murray Smith Centennial Park. She said the latter is near schools and said students, including her own children, walk through town on field trips and use the parks.

“We’re making decisions for future generations,” she said. “I think this is the best bang for our buck.”Councillor Diane Pouget said she appreciated the plan, adding an original recommendation to put off funding until 2032 would have meant “14 years of neglect” for the park. She said homes are nearby as well as three schools.

“This was promised to the school board when they purchased property and also to the public that we would put back things that were lost in that park,” she said. Pouget said this funding is a good showing the town is going to restore the park. She also suggested sponsors could be obtained for the park, adding seniors could use the park as well.

“It benefits all ages,” said Pouget. “Most of all, I think it is a show of co-operation with the school board and our community at large.”

Councillor Don McArthur thanked Courtney for bringing the motion forward, stating he didn’t believe they were taking from the Libro Centre as the trail system is “fantastic” and the amenities there are transformational.

“What we do need right now is recreational amenities in the core of town, next to the school,” he said. “I know we’re not deciding it today, but I truly hope they can play basketball there. I think it would be kind of a slight-of-hand a real rug pull if we put two courts there and they couldn’t play basketball.”

Trails could be used every day of the year, he said, adding it would be transformed from a traditional park to a linear park. 

“It was a beautiful park but it lost that lustre for a few years but it’s going to be a beautiful park again,” he said.

Deputy Mayor Chris Gibb opposed the motion, citing concerns he said he regularly hears about the town’s ability to afford what it has right now.

“I just can’t support adding a new piece of infrastructure when we know we’re in a massive deficit with the infrastructure we already have,” he said.

Gibb added he thought it was a good idea to start upgrades to H. Murray Smith Centennial Park “but I’d prefer to get a handle on what we already have and get ahead of the 8-ball so that we can afford to maintain our current assets rather than add new assets. That would be across the board for me. I’m going to be opposed, but it is what it is.”

Councillor Linden Crain said Courtney has been “a strong advocate” for the park. Crain said he liked the fact it would have a trail system as it would have “a big impact” on people of all ages. 

“It’s really going to be a facility that is going to be used,” said Crain. “We’re not increasing the tax levy in any way.”

Mayor Michael Prue supported Courtney’s motion, and noted “it’s been a long fight” to save it and restore it. He recalled a previous concept to sell part of it and added his position “I will never sell parkland. It is too valuable to the community.”

Prue added he met with members of the Smith family and promised him that H. Murray Smith’s legacy would be maintained in that park.

“This is the park of the inner town. This is not a big sports complex, although there will be some sports and opportunities taking place,” he said. “I see it more, like in many small towns and small cities, it’s an inner park which is a gathering point in the town that people would gravitate to. It would be a signature park, just like the waterfront park is a signature park.

Prue recalled a petition with 3,000 signatures to save the park and wanted those signatures respected.

“I still think it’s important today. When we build this, this will be one of the signature achievements of this town during this term of council,” said the mayor.

A second motion, put forth by Councillor Don McArthur, had $250,000 that was in the 2025 budget be redirected to H. Murray Smith Centennial Park. That funding had been for a pump track near the current skateboard park, but it will now go towards H. Murray Smith Centennial Park.

McArthur said some money was raised for a pump track “but the groundswell wasn’t there” in terms of major fundraising for a pump track. He pointed a bike skills park is planned but given that and the trails, the $250,000 earmarked could be reprioritized.

“Could we take the $250,000 and funnel it to Centennial Park and get four courts instead of two so then we don’t have to do it twice and we actually save money? Is it a new park development DC’s (development charges) can be used for because there is nothing there now? If it is, I can support that,” said McArthur.

Deputy CAO/director of development services Melissa Osborne said the DC’s could also be transferred to H. Murray Smith Centennial Park.

McArthur pointed out H. Murray Smith Centennial Park’s central location, and hoped partnerships could be found for sponsorships and donations for that park. He cited donations and sponsorships that were secured for the pickleball courts at the Libro Centre, and wanted similar for H. Murray Smith Centennial Park.

“Do it once, do it right. There are economies of scale if we build four courts instead of two,” he said. 

McArthur added he didn’t want to have to decide between tennis and basketball courts.

“I just think there are opportunities to achieve economies of scale, to right a historical wrong and to create a jewel we can all be proud of in the centre of town, all without raising the tax rate. We’re shuffling the cards to give this town a winning hand,” said McArthur.

Courtney added he appreciated the rationale behind McArthur’s motion, and believed things could “snowball” in terms of getting support. To Gibb’s point, Courtney said he understood what Gibb was saying but the Centennial Park assets were “lost assets.”

“I really think there’s going to be a lot of interest,” he said. “I’ve heard vibes from that side they are waiting and wanting (to invest). It’s not replacing the S. Ralph McCurdy track, the appetite is gone for that. To that point, where the S. Ralph McCurdy track is, there will be a new passive trail system. There will be updated courts for new generations to use.” 

Courtney added “this could be a really good highlight” for this term of council and even the previous term of council. Crain said he would support the motion as well, believing he’d like to see the funds utilized at H. Murray Smith Centennial Park.

Crain added WEBC is using their funds to create features at the Libro Centre and he would rather the town create such things as courts at Centennial.

Pouget stated she fully supported McArthur’s motion as well, and wanted to know the plan in terms of features and number of courts at H. Murray Smith Centennial Park. Baillargeon said she will come back with a report on that in the first quarter of 2026.

Like he did with Courtney, Prue thanked McArthur for his motion. Prue cited how strongly McArthur believes in the pump track and fought for some funding.

“To make this motion today, pretty amazing,” the mayor said.

McArthur’s motion also passed with the same 6-1 vote.

More funding allocated for H. Murray Smith Centennial Park

By Ron Giofu