Construction to rehabilitate Centennial Field is expected to get underway any day now, according to Bruce Thompson, director of operations for the municipality.
In an email sent to the Fitzhugh he said construction was slated to begin on Aug. 1, however at the time of publishing the field still sat fallow.
The rehabilitation of the field is starting about a month later than was initially planned, however the minor delay is not expected to impact its completion, said Thompson.
In August 2015, the federal government earmarked $187,500 through the Canada 150 Fund to redevelop Centennial Field on the condition that the municipality would match those funds, bringing the total budget for the project up to $375,000.
Heritage Nurseries from St. Albert was awarded the contract.
Construction must be completed by December 2017 according to the requirements of the grant.
With the funds, the municipality plans to redesign, excavate and reconstruct the field to improve its irrigation and drainage, as well as make the surface safe for users.
The field was in such bad disrepair in 2015 that the North Central Soccer Association threatened to stop hosting games on the field in 2016 unless the municipality improved it, which it did to ensure the field could be used until it was rehabilitated this year.
While Centennial Field undergoes construction residents will be left without a field because the Exchange Lands will remain closed for use until next spring, according to Thompson.
To accommodate users a soccer camp is being relocated and spontaneous use will not be permitted in order to give the site time to mature and be ready for use next spring.
Paul Clarke
[email protected]
