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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-06-029 - 2004 City of Kitchener & Festival of Neighbourhoods Capital Improvement Grant ) ~ Community Services ~ Report To: Date of Meeting: Submitted By: Prepared By: Ward(s) Involved: Date of Report: Report No.: Subject: Community Services Committee March 6, 2006 Mark Hildebrand, Interim Director, Community Programs and Services Natascha VolI, Facilitator, Breithaupt Centre ( 2503) February 23, 2006 CSD-06-029 2004 CITY OF KITCHENER AND FESTIVAL OF NEIGHBOURHOODS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT GRANT RECOMMENDATION: That the 2004 Capital improvement grant for the Mount Hope-Breithaupt Park Neighbourhood be used for a movie projector and costs related to the installation of an outdoor winter rink adjacent to Breithaupt Centre. BACKGROUND: The Mount Hope-Breithaupt Park Neighbourhood Association (MHBPNA) has won the 2004 Festival of Neighbourhoods $10,000 capital improvement grant from the City of Kitchener. This grant is awarded each year to one lucky winner from the annual Festival of Neighbourhoods. The grant must be spent on public property in Kitchener and be open to input from at least 50 households. REPORT: The MHBPNA did an extensive community outreach in the Breithaupt community and at the Breithaupt Resource Centre. Invitations to a visioning session were distributed throughout the area. Questionnaires were also handed out to all participants at the Breithaupt centre over a two-week period. A small working group made up of community stakeholders reviewed all suggestions and ideas and established terms of reference for reviewing the projects put forth. The committee decided to focus on two initiatives: a new movie projector for use in the Breithaupt Centre and other Kitchener communities and a new outdoor winter rink shack located adjacent to the Breithaupt Centre. Report No. CSD-06-029 Page 2 The movie projector would be used by a number of neighbourhood programs and the Breithaupt Centre staff for community use. The MHBPNA currently has a licence to show movies and supports a number of other Neighbourhood Associations under that license to show movies in various neighbourhood venues. The out door ice rink will become part of the outdoor rink program currently operated by the City of Kitchener Community Services Division. CSD staff will provide boards, shovels, heaters, and hose as part of the existing support to outdoor rinks throughout the City of Kitchener. Facilities Management staff have reviewed the area adjacent to the Breithaupt Centre and have estimated the cost of the project to be $13,500. (See attached quote.) The working group is doing additional fundraising this year to raise the extra funds needed to accomplish both these initiatives in the next calendar year. The group has applied for grant applications and is approaching service clubs and groups like the Breithaupt Seniors Advisory Council for additional support. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: Council sets aside $10,000 annually for this purpose. Historically, Festival of Neighbourhoods Grants are a catalyst for community collaboration and have resulted in community projects that are worth far more than the City of Kitchener's $10,000 investment. This project is also going to result in huge value added once both projects are completed. COMMUNICATIONS: Recognition of funders and the project will be established on site once the winter rink shack is in place. CONCLUSION: The Festival of Neighbourhoods continues to encourage neighbours getting to know neighbours. The $10,000 grant provided each year by council for capital improvement is a unique opportunity for both City of Kitchener staff and community to look at ways to enhance the local infrastructure. Each project is exciting and unique and results in an opportunity to make a difference. Mark Hildebrand, Interim Director Community Programs & Services AP