Parksville’s Community Park sports field will be greatly improved with a cash infusion of more than $350,000, half of which from federal government coffers.
Nanaimo-Alberni MP James Lunney made the announcement beside the field on Tuesday on behalf of Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification Lynne Yelich.
Mayor Chris Burger said the field was built in the early 1970s and “is very much an important part of our infrastructure,” pointing out that along with a lot of use from locals, it also accommodates visiting teams and tourists.
Parksville Director of Operations Alan Metcalf said the field was built on a sand base which has lasted very well, but closures due to drainage and other problems are becoming more common.
Along with improvements to the drainage, the field will get an upgraded irrigation system which will reduce the use of water and re-use some of the water from the Lions’ water park.
The federal government portion of the funds come from the Community Infrastructure Improvement Fund, delivered by Western Economic Diversification in Western Canada, with an allocation of $46.2 million over two years.