New amenities expand recreational opportunities for residents
Two new athletic fields opened in South Cooking Lake on August 19, 2023, coinciding with that community’s annual Trail Days celebration, which also marked the centennial anniversary of its Community League.
The $450,000 project, which created a pickleball and basketball court, was listed in the Strathcona County Recreation and Culture Strategy and the South Cooking Lake Community Master Plan. The project was made possible thanks to federal funding of up to $337,500 provided through the Canada Community Revitalization Fund (CCRF).
“The need for recreation and culture in Strathcona County is diverse,” said Mayor Rod Frank. “I am pleased that the South Cooking Lake community has received two additional amenities that will increase residents’ access to outdoor recreation opportunities.”
The CCRF is a two-year, $500 million national infrastructure program designed to support communities across the country with projects that revitalize the downtown core and major streets, reinvent outdoor spaces, create green infrastructure and improve accessibility to community spaces. The fund is managed in Alberta by PrairiesCan.
“The opening of these recreational facilities in South Cooking Lake reflects a successful, shared commitment between Strathcona County and the federal government to create public spaces for everyone to enjoy,” says the Honorable Dan Vandal, Minister of Prairies Economic Development Canada. “Through the Canada Community Revitalization Fund, our government is investing in communities across the Prairies to build and modernize local infrastructure that will benefit residents and visitors for years to come.”
“Recreation facilities like these help build communities in many small towns across Alberta,” said the Honorable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages. “This investment will continue to shape the sense of belonging and improve the quality of life for many families who will continue to call South Cooking Lake home for years to come.”
Recreational multi-sports fields are important to a community because they provide accessible spaces for physical activity, promote social connections, promote inclusion, and improve the overall quality of life by providing a variety of recreational opportunities.
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Contact: Strathcona County Communications, 780-410-6595
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