Parksville will provide $250,000 to support the Oceanside Community Track project.
Council voted at its March 29 meeting to use money from the federal gas tax fund (GTF) to support the proposed track. It would replace a track that is over 40 years old and in poor condition, according to the Oceanside Track at Ballenas committee.
The federal government recently announced it would double this year’s GTF payments to municipalities, as well as rename it the Canada Community-Building Fund. Lucky Butterworth, the city’s director of finance, said the city usually receives $582,000 in GTF payments.
Mayor Ed Mayne said even if the amount is not doubled, money could be taken from the city’s $6 million GTF surplus.
The committee said the track will cost an estimated $1.5 million. It has already received a pledge of $200,000 from the school district, in addition to $32,000 and $21,000 from Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) areas G and H, respectively, pending approval from the Union of B.C. Municipalities (UBCM).
The committee said it hopes to raise $250,000 through public and corporate donations. It has plans for an awareness and fundraising campaign with a local grocery chain, in addition to two 50/50 draws with a local service club and a virtual running event.
