Victoria Park Grandstand (Photo provided by Hillary Breadner)
The Owen Sound Agricultural Society is waiting for plans to be drawn up before repairs to the Victoria Park grandstand get underway.
Owen Sound Agricultural Society President Hillary Breadner says the work on the grandstand started after receiving an unsafe order from the City of Owen Sound June 13, 2022.
“We then went and decided to refurbish the grandstands. We were either having to refurbish them or demolish them,” says Breadner.
She says while the majority of the grandstand is in good shape, the very front of the structure has reached the end of its life.
“We have had inspectors in to look at the whole thing and the main concern is the front portion which we are working on,” says Breadner.
She says currently they are waiting on some plans to be drawn up, which will then be reviewed and the work can commence.
“During Covid we had an incredible time trying to get quotes from people, businesses and such, especially construction companies and it has just been a really long process for us to get to this point,” says Breadner.
She says they have also been looking into grants to conduct more work on the structure.
“Right now we just have an estimate from when we started. We are soon going to find out what the next phase of the grandstand is going to cost us, but we are estimating about $100,000 to complete the work that we are looking to do,” Breadner adds.
Breadner says those who would like to support the repair of the grandstand can send cheques to the Owen Sound Agricultural Society. People can also participate in the Buy a Bench program on the society’s website here, where people can buy an eight-foot section of the bench and a plaque will be placed on the grandstand in memorial.
Breadner says she is confident they will have the work completed before the end of August.