$200 million will go towards sports and recreation facilities across Ontario

Ontario | Halton | Oakville | Community | Other |

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Published April 18, 2024 at 12:13 pm

oakville funding sports ford lumsden
Neil Lumsden, Ontario's Minister Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, and Premier Doug Ford were in Oakville today to announce $200 million in funding.

Upgrading local sports and recreation facilities across Ontario is the goal of new funding from the provincial government.

Announced today in Oakville as part of the 2024 budget, the new Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund will invest up to $200 million over three years to support Ontario’s growing communities.

“Ontario’s new Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund will transform and expand recreational facilities across the province, creating jobs and fostering healthier and more active lifestyles for families,” said Premier Doug Ford.

“As our population grows, our government is building the necessary infrastructure so families can live, work, play and thrive right in their local communities.”

Funding will be delivered through two streams:

Repairing and upgrading existing sport and recreation facilities into more accessible, state-of-the-art facilities that better suit the community’s needs.

Building new and transformative sport and recreation facilities, including replacing existing facilities that have reached the end of their lifespan and are beyond repair.

“Our government is listening to Ontarians and we want to ensure that new and upgraded facilities remain the heart of communities across this province for decades to come,” said Neil Lumsden, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport.

“Not only will families benefit from better access to places to play, but modern sport and recreation facilities will also allow communities to host provincial, national and international events and competitions, attracting more visitors and good-paying jobs.”

Applications will be open to municipalities, Indigenous communities, and non-profit organizations.

“Community centres and recreation facilities give people of all ages a safe place to come together, laugh, play and get the most out of their local community,” said Peter Bethlenfalvy, Minister of Finance.

The sport and recreation sector contributed an estimated $2.6 billion to Ontario’s economy in 2021 and accounted for approximately 38,000 jobs.

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