Cambridge city council has approved the creation an all-inclusive multi-sport court at an existing city park.
The Canadian Tire Jumpstart program, which helps provide funding to create inclusive play for children of all abilities, has offered the city $500,000 to support the project.
This would provide space for accessible space for sports such as basketball, pickleball, sitting volleyball, tennis, volleyball, wheelchair basketball and wheelchair tennis.
A report was approved at a special council meeting Tuesday night that directed to staff to consult with the Accessibility Advisory Committee to undertake public engagement and recommend locations within city parks that could be enhanced with accessible amenities based on funding received through the Canadian Tire Jumpstart program.
Jumpstart will provide a variety of elements, including accessible tables, nets, fencing, and LED lighting.
Staff estimates that the city's portion of the project is somewhere between $800,000 to $1.3 million based on similar projects in other cities.
Staff also recommended to council that it undertake public engagement and consultation to finalize a location and complete detailed design with a budget of $140,000 to begin that preliminary work.
Three possible locations have been identified for the barrier-free, all-accessible multi-sport court: Hespeler Optimist Park, Lions Can-Amera Park and Churchill Park.
“I am very excited about all of the possibilities for children and youth, particularly those with needs, and that these kinds of facilities will be more accessible to them,” said Coun. Donna Reid.
“I love partnerships. This brings people together. Working together really makes our community a place that people want to live in, so I am very supportive of this. I think it will be very helpful to children and youth with disabilities, so they are not the other, so they are among us, the same.”
A staff report cautioned that if the city were to proceed with the project this year it would have to find funding from elsewhere in the existing budget to start planning and design work. Even proceeding in 2023 will mean other projects would get bumped down the priority list.
It adds that proceeding with consultation and design work on the Jumpstart project will push back the Angewood Park playground replacement project and Riverside Skateboard Park project until Spring 2023.
“Potentially it could increase the price of the projects as they get pushed out. Just to remind council with the 2022 Capital budget and forecast presented, there were 36 unfunded projects worth $32 million in the forecast that were not approved because the city did not have the funding for them,” said Sheryl Ayers,
“So, we do have an existing backload of projects that the city has already planned to undertake. This will result in other projects being deferred into the future and will create further issues in our funding ability.”
Councillor Mike Mann said he thinks this is very valuable for the members of the community.
“This is an opportunity to join with Jumpstart and create an initiative that’s going to address the needs in our community,” he said.
Jumpstart is happy to partner with the city of Cambridge.
"That is part of our longstanding mission, to bring sport, physical activity, and recreation to as many kids as possible including those who are marginalized are left feeling unrepresented in the space of play due to a number of different challenges. We want to help kids achieve the best version of themselves,” said Marco DiBuono from Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities.
“We will work with city to find the right configuration, whether it’s two courts side by side for basketball or for a variety of sports like tennis and volleyball. So, depending on the needs of the community, we will work with city staff to get the maximum activity on those courts.”
Cambridge Mayor Kathryn McGarry said she is very impressed with the program.
“It is very individualized to meet the needs of the community,” she said.
Councillor Shannon Adshade said that with Jumpstart’s $500,00 donation, this will help provide accessibility for all abilities.
“I think this is another great addition in the city,” Adshade said.
“And it will be a real sports magnet, a wonderful opportunity.”
