Story from Nova Scotia Health Authority
As CBRM Health Care Redevelopment moves forward, government recognizes the importance of sports and recreation to the youth and community of New Waterford and area.
Today, Sept. 30, government announced $4.5 million to move and rebuild two sports fields and other recreation facilities in New Waterford.
New Waterford’s artificial turf soccer field, tennis courts and three outbuildings (washrooms and storage) will be moved to MacKinnon Field to make way for the construction of a new, modern community hub. The hub will have a new community health centre, a 60-bed long-term care home and a new school to replace Breton Education Centre. The grass soccer field at MacKinnon Field will be moved to nearby Colliery Lands Park, adjacent to Heelan Street.
“This is an important step in the work to build the New Waterford Community Hub,” said Business Minister Geoff MacLellan, on behalf of Lloyd Hines, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal. “This is a unique community model that will provide world-class health care into the future, expose students to health-care careers and create better connections between students and seniors.”
The CBRM Health Care Redevelopment project will modernize our health care facilities, improve access to care and help continue to recruit and retain health professionals to Cape Breton.
With provincial funding confirmed, the relocation of MacKinnon Field and Colliery Lands Park can now go to Cape Breton Regional Municipality (CBRM) Council for final approval.
Quotes:
“As a long-time community member with three young daughters, I’m thrilled with the redevelopment. We still maintain our cluster, in close proximity to the new school and health complex, with the basketball court, skateboard park, ball hockey rink, Susan Coombs outdoor fitness facility, tennis courts, walking track and state-of-the-art turf soccer field, all located across the road from the new complex. The project will be a tremendous boost to our community.” Greg Morrison, board member, New Waterford and District Minor Soccer
“As president of the New Waterford Tennis Club, we strongly endorse this endeavor. Our tennis courts and club house are showing their age and are in need of major, costly repairs. New tennis courts in relatively the same cluster location, will be a huge win for our club and the people of New Waterford.” Jared Pheifer, president, New Waterford Tennis Club
Quick facts:
- MacKinnon Field and Colliery Lands Park are municipal lands. Future recreation facilities will continue to be owned by CBRM
- Breton Education Centre was built in 1971
- the current artificial turf field is 16 years old
- construction is expected to begin next spring
