Additional funding approved by Cambridge city council for Fountain Street Soccer Complex

City of Cambridge staff are one step closer to achieving their goal of completing the Fountain Street Soccer Complex project by the end of the year.

The Fountain Street Soccer Complex has been under construction for a year now, and the project has just got one last financial push from council. Project staff recommended a motion to council for an additional $1.3 million in funding, and it was approved Tuesday night unanimously.

“We need to move this project ahead,” said Ward 1 Councillor Donna Reid. “We need those fields and we need them done this year. I really have to commend staff, because it’s been a very difficult time to do any projects with the way the supply and demand is and the difficulty in getting workers.”

Due to unforeseen issues in the construction market, delayed lead times and higher costs for labour and parts has hampered progress. Project Manager Shane Taylor told council that parts that would usually take a few months to arrive is universally taking over a year now. A five per cent project contingency fund was established for that very reason, however it is now depleted.

Taylor said $300,000 of the $1.3 million will replenish that fund, so the rest can go toward a key part of the complex.

“Now that we’re having very promising conversations with sponsors, the project team recommends reintroducing scoreboards and site signage immediately, funding those items up front through reserves and recouping those costs through sponsorship funds,” said Taylor.

Staff are targeting $2.5 million in sponsorship value from the facility.