Chatham-Kent council will be asked Monday to approve nearly $4.5 million in spending to maintain and upgrade recreational facilities across the municipality.
However, the bulk of the funding for these numerous projects will come from lifecycle budgets, reserves that have been set aside by staff to cover the anticipated cost of upgrades.
Just more than $1.2 million is being budgeted for various upgrades to arenas in Chatham, Wallaceburg, Blenheim, Dresden, Ridgetown, Tilbury and Wheatley.
A significant investment is planned for trails across Chatham-Kent, with nearly $1.6 million earmarked for various projects across the municipality, along with a few specific projects, such as the reconstruction of the Henry Smyth Pathway in Chatham and the completion of trails in Blenheim and Muirkirk.
Another $700,000 is planned to be spent on parks across the municipality and another $694,000 is being used for playground equipment in various parks in Chatham-Kent.
A total of $127,000 is earmarked for repairs at the two municipal indoor pools – the Blenheim Rees Gable Rotary Pool and the Sydenham Pool in Wallaceburg.
Another $66,250 worth of work is slated on the seven municipal outdoor pools.
A total of $22,000 is being requested for splash pads, with a particular focus on the Kingston Park facility in Chatham that needs a UV ballast replacement and UV light replacement, both regular maintenance items. The chlorinator erosion feeder also needs to be replaced.
There is also a request to spend $71,000 on municipal halls, with work slated for the Bruner Center in Thamesville, the Bothwell Scout Hut and Merlin Hall.