Cumberland council approved a recommendation this week to support a recreation program application dubbed Cumberland Village Park Infrastructure Project to a maximum of nearly $405,000.
The intent is to construct a skatepark, replace the playground structure, and resurface the tennis and basketball courts.
Coun. Kate Greening opposed the recommendation from Dave Durrant, manager of community services.
"How can this fit into Village Park when we haven't finished what we started?" said Greening, noting the Village Park name is already used.
The rest of council supported the application, which Durrant feels is a good fit with the Village master plan.
"We need to shoot high and hope for the best," Coun. Roger Kishi said.
According to public input, replacing the playground and constructing a skate park are the most desired projects. Resurfacing the courts were also identified as priorities.
The skatepark would be designed by youth in conjunction with Spectrum Skate Park Creations, while elementary school children would decide on the playground.
The application deadline is Dec. 28. Provincial grants are available to municipalities and regional districts, with priority given to smaller communities.
If the application is successful, the province would provide upwards of $323,000. The Village would kick in nearly $81,000, $50,000 of which will come from Trilogy Group. The other $30,000-plus would come from annual budgets from the next three years.
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Council directed staff to provide a report in January about a tree and heritage home protection bylaw.
The motion stemmed from resident Donna Lemay's concern about "the most beautiful tree in Cumberland" that was cut down last month to make room for construction, she said in a letter to council. She notes Edward W. Bickle of 2750 Dunsmuir Ave. planted the London Plane tree — one of four at this property placed on the Cumberland Heritage Tree Registry — in 1921.
"It is rumored the lot(s) have been cleared to make room for a new library," Lemay states. "Does that mean that the heritage houses at 2750 and 2744 Dunsmuir are also slated for destruction?"
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The Village will develop a Climate Action Strategy to address requirements of Bill 27, and develop a plan to address Climate Action Charter commitments, exploring carbon offset opportunities and liabilities.
The province has mandated local governments to take action to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and to prepare for the effects of climate change. By signing onto the charter, the Village committed to being carbon neutral in respect of its operations by 2012. The topic will appear on the agenda at a town hall meeting at the end of January.
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Committee of the whole meetings are scheduled for 10 a.m. Dec. 29 and 5:30 p.m. Jan. 16 in council chambers.
The first is a procedural workshop. Trilogy president/CEO John Evans will provide an update at the second session, which will also include a water and sewer update from the municipal engineer.
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