New Uxpool receives $7 million grant
Roger Varley, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Two provincial cabinet ministers, the entire Uxbridge council and a host of invited guests were on hand Tuesday for the announcement of a $7.73 million grant for the construction of the new Uxpool.
Pickering-Uxbridge MPP Peter Bethlenfalvy, flanked by (from left) Amanda Ferraro (director of community services for the Township of Uxbridge), provincial Minister of Sport Neil Lumsden, and Uxbridge Mayor Dave Barton, announces that Uxbridge is receiving almost $8 million to go towards the building of a new swimming pool facility. Photo by John Cavers
The grant from the provincial Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund was announced by Ontario Minister of Sport Neil Lumsden, who played for the Toronto Argonauts, Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Edmonton Eskimos in the '70s and '80s.
"Sport galvanizes communities," Lumsden said. "This is going to change people's lives."
The minister said applications for grants from the fund were "highly competitive," adding that "Uxbridge did a great job in its application."
Asked by one of the people gathered "why Uxbridge?", Lumsden responded: "Why not? Uxbridge's application was really well done and deserved recognition. If we don't invest in communities, what have you got?"
Peter Bethlenfalvy, minister of finance and MPP for Pickering-Uxbridge, said the new facility will be a year-round sports hub, providing "safe, modern sports facilities."
Mayor Dave Barton said the new Uxpool is a financially responsible project, adding that the old Uxpool has served the community well over its 50 years, but a new pool is the best option.
The new Uxpool will have an eight-lane, 25-metre pool and a therapy pool as well as a gymnasium and basketball and pickleball facilities. It will take up most of the space now occupied by Uxpool and the adjacent baseball field.
The estimated cost of the new pool is $16 million. With no funding coming from the region, Uxbridge will pick up the remainder of the tab. The new pool will use new, non-traditional construction methods using modular, pre-engineered technology.