A new skate park and pickleball facility is one step closer to becoming a reality after city council's budget committee approved $890,000 in funds toward the project during capital budget deliberations this week.
While the funds are conditional upon a successful grant application to the province, construction could begin next year on the skate park, eight pickleball courts, and playground planned for Foundry Park on the West Street South Orillia Recreation Centre property.
If the grant bid is successful, the province’s Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund program will fund up to 50 per cent of eligible project costs for the $2-million project, which could be open to the public by 2026.
The local skateboarding community has pushed for a new skate park for a number of years, with the Orillia Skateparkers prepared to contribute up to $100,000 toward the new park. The Orillia Pickleball Club, similarly, is expected to raise $10,000 in support of the project once it’s been designed.
During budget discussions, Coun. Jay Fallis questioned whether the planned playground – anticipated to cost $200,000 – could be removed from the project without impacting the city’s grant application.
“That application is in to the … government right now. We wouldn't want to alter that application in any way,” said John McMullen, the city's manager of parks planning and development. “We're committed to that right now as we made the application.”
City staff told OrilliaMatters they do not have a timeframe for when they will hear back on the grant application.
All decisions made during 2025 budget deliberations are subject to ratification on Dec. 9.
