River Ward Councillor Maria McRae, city staff and community residents celebrated the grand reopening of an expanded and renovated Carleton Heights Community Centre yesterday.
The $700,000 expansion adds about 1,500 square feet to the centre in the form of an additional multipurpose room, and includes new flooring, refurbished community rooms and a resurfaced parking lot.
The building has also undergone numerous improvements to increase accessibility, including adjustments to washrooms, doors and hallways to make them more wheelchair- and walker-friendly, and Braille on centre signs for the visually impaired.
McRae said she was particularly proud of the project because it was the first such expansion to be accomplished via a partnership between the city and the Carleton Heights Area Residents’ Association.
The volunteer community organization contributed $350,000 to the project from the proceeds of centre recreation programs and other events. The city footed the other half of the bill through its Major Capital Community Partnership Project.
“This collaborative effort was indeed a true partnership, and I want to acknowledge the dedication of city staff for ensuring that this important community project took place, said Charles Yellen, chair of the residents’ association.
