Maxwell Park Proposed Children's Park (Image from Grey Highlands council)
Grey Highlands is cancelling a project to build a new children’s park at the former Maxwell ball diamond.
Council approved cancelling the initiative, as well as return donated funds, and uncommit the municipal contribution of over $56,000 during its meeting on Dec. 4.
This comes after the Maxwell Park Committee presented the community-led initiative in June, 2022, which was supported by council.
Manager of Operations for Parks and Recreation Mike Botelho says one of the donors to the project requested their funds be returned as the project is not progressing and the group leading the project no longer wishes to proceed.
Council was also given the option to approve the project, while reducing the scope or allocate additional funding through the budget process, or hold off making any decisions.
Coun. Paul Allen recommended council cancel the project.
“We had a delegation that asked for a specific thing and they were going to fundraise,” says Allen. “And now they have indicated they that they don’t want to proceed, so to me we have to cancel that approval. If there is someone else that wants to come forward, then they can put together a package, come to council and make a request. I think that money could be used in other places.”
Mayor Paul McQueen, however, suggested holding a public engagement session for people to voice their thoughts on the project.
“Is there a possibility that we have some public forum or some sort of getting some feedback to what the community in that area really would like to see. Obviously if we don’t get feedback, then we will elect to make decisions,” says McQueen.
Council did not go along with McQueen’s recommendation.