Parks committee wants sponsorships explored

Amherstburg’s parks and recreation advisory committee is expressing a desire that the town find new ways to help offset costs for projects.

The committee will be recommending to town council that ways to explore getting third party sponsorships and donations for projects be considered. Councillor Peter Courtney said he also plans to address the issue around the council table, noting his interest to see ways the business community can be involved to provide monetary or in-kind assistance to projects.

“I’m looking for options here,” he said. “If we want to engage third parties, how do we market that?”

The debate on sponsorships and contributions came out during a verbal report from director of parks, facilities and recreation Heidi Baillargeon about a new multi-use pathway planned for Jack Purdie Park. Baillargeon reported some good news and some bad news as part of her report to the committee.

“We did send the project out to tender. We got 12 bid submissions, which is amazing right off the hop,” said Baillargeon. “Unfortunately, they were all over-budget.”

Baillargeon told the committee bids were about $100,000 over what the town had budgeted for.

A “plan of action” will go before town council on how to cover the extra money, with $80,000 of it proposed to be covered through leftover funding from earlier rounds of the park redevelopment process. Council will also be asked to re-direct other funds, she indicated, though she told the committee there will be different options to go to council. That report is anticipated to be on the April 14 council agenda.

“I feel there is money in town and money in Essex County,” said Courtney. “Are we doing anything to solicit businesses for some of the materials?”

Baillargeon stated they are bound by the procurement process when issuing tenders but while Courtney said he understood that, he was hoping to see administration be able to figure out a way to “get crafty” and find ways to allow for outside donations and sponsorships to projects.

Courtney noted there is a quarry in town that could be contacted for granular material. He said other municipalities have gone out and sold naming rights to parks and park amenities, noting Amherstburg has as well with the Libro Centre being an example.

“That’s why I think we have to go out and spread our money out further,” he said.

Committee member Tony Pietrangelo agreed with Courtney, noting businesses value having their names on something. He said having a business name in a place where people can see it is good for that business.

“To have something in town that has the name of your business on it, it’s dynamite for your business,” he said. 

Councillor Molly Allaire wanted to know when the multi-use pathway could be completed, with Baillargeon stating that depends on council’s decision April 14. Baillargeon said there had been a goal to have it installed before the summer.

Parks committee wants sponsorships explored

By Ron Giofu