Mill Courtland Community Centre expansion one step closer to reality

A proposed $6-million expansion at a local community centre, is one step closer to becoming a reality.

Kitchener City Councillors have asked staff to work on a detailed design for the expansion at the Mill Courtland Community Centre in Kitchener, but at a lower cost.

The city is working to keep the project closer to the approved $4.5-million available. That $6-million figure includes all design elements for the expansion, with staff noting they are confident they can focus and prioritize only the critical elements to the expansion, keeping that financial figure around $1.5-million lower.

If more cash is needed, and “it is found that their are critical components that can not be met within the current budget,” council will re-evaluate the plan.

The city notes, the community centre at the corner of Stirling Ave South and Mill Street is simply not big enough to service the growing community in that area.

The Mill Courtland neighbourhood is set to grow 37 per cent in the next 18 years.

The much needed expansion was recommended nearly 20 years ago in the 2005 Leisure Facilities Master Plan, but has been delayed due to a lack of available funding.