By Treena Mielke
Ponoka County will inject a financial boost into the redevelopment of the lakefront at the Summer Village of Parkland Beach.
At its regular meeting Sept. 13, county council agreed to comply with a request by Friends of the Lakefront for $140,000.
The county will contribute $40,000 from its cash in lieu reserves into walkways and consider adding $100,000 to the overall project in 2012 budget.
In her request to council, Lillian Polay, chairperson of Friends of the Lakefront, said the organization was looking at a donation of $70,000 to replace the playground at the south end of the beach.
“This equipment has been in use for many years and is very outdated and unsafe,” she said.
She said funding for a new tot playground is being provided by the Summer Village of Parkland Beach and that equipment will be installed in the spring of 2012.
The Friends of the Lakefront also requested $30,000 to replace toilets at the north end of the beach.
“The new toilets will be close to the area of the proposed north swimming beach and be available to persons using the marina which is a high traffic area during the summer months,” said Polay.
An injection of $40,000 for construction of new pathways to connect existing pathways to the new tot lot and interpretive trail was also on the Friends ‘wish list.’
The Friends of the Lakefront will undertake a fundraising campaign to seek funding for completion of other projects of the redevelopment plan, said Polay.
Council agreed Parkland Beach was used by many county residents.
“Our residents have had terrific benefit for many years at a minimal cost to us,” said CAO Charlie Cutforth.
“I’ve had the privilege of being there when it is really busy,” said Coun. Paul McLauchlin.
Reeve Gord Svenningsen complimented Polay and Mel Fisher, secretary of the Westlake Community Society, for their hard work and diligence on the development plan.
“Every community needs people like you,” he said.