Municipality of Port Hope Breaks Ground on Town Park Recreation Centre Expansion Project

Pete Fisher
2 years ago
• Categories: City Hall, Editor Choice, Local

Members of Council for the Municipality of Port Hope were joined by MP Philip Lawrence and MPP David Piccini in an official ground-breaking ceremony on Friday, July 8, 2022, to celebrate the launch of the Town Park Recreation Centre Expansion Project, as construction on the initiative is set to begin.

The construction of a new facility to replace the Ruth Clarke Activity Centre is an objective of the Port Hope Strategic Plan. In November of 2019, the Municipality applied to the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP), which is jointly funded by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario. On March 12, 2021, it was announced that the Municipality was successful with the ICIP application, and the project was awarded funding in the amount of $1.2M from the federal government and $1M from the provincial government.

This Town Park Recreation Centre expansion plans include:
three multipurpose rooms
accessible washrooms
a welcoming lobby and customer service space
additional staff offices and storage
a new kitchenette
an outdoor courtyard area for future development

The completed facility will enhance the usable space and optimize operational costs, while providing enhanced older adult programming and increased programming for all ages.
Following an open and competitive process last spring, the Municipality of Port Hope awarded the contract to Dalren Limited. Staff released a design-build request for proposal in Fall 2021 and the locally based contracting firm was the successful bidder based on factors including, quality management approach, design excellence and creativity, and meeting requirements for schedule, and price.

Construction is expected to be completed in early 2023.

Current programming at the TPRC is set to continue during the upcoming construction with anticipated minor disruptions. Ongoing communication and collaboration with the community and the Ruth Clarke Activity Centre Board and membership will include newsletters, bi-monthly updates, social media notices and in-person events.

For more information and updates on the project as it progresses, visit //porthope.ca/tprc.

Quotes
“We are excited to move into the next step of this project with Dalren Limited and see the plans for the expansion of the centre come to fruition. The long-awaited expansion project is in response to the growth of the older adult population and will provide improved facilities to serve our seniors and all other residents of Port Hope. We’ve coined the tagline “growing together” as our project theme, which points to our growing population, the expansion of the facility, and the increase of our multi-generational community opportunities.”
Bob Sanderson, Mayor of the Municipality of Port Hope

“Government works when we work together. That is why I am so pleased to have worked with my provincial and municipal counterparts to get shovels in the ground for the Town Park Recreation Centre Expansion Project. I am excited to see the programming that this expansion will bring to Port Hope.”
Philip Lawrence, MP for Northumberland-Peterborough South

“Port Hope has an active and vibrant seniors population that deserves a modern and safe place to gather for activities. Our Government is proud to work collaboratively with partners at all levels to get it done for Seniors in Northumberland-Peterborough South. The Town Park Recreation Centre has always been a focal point of our community. This expansion will create more programs and will allow for more participation, keeping seniors healthy, engaged and social.”
David Piccini, MPP for Northumberland-Peterborough South

“On behalf of the Ruth Clarke Activity Centre Board, I am thrilled to see that the expansion of the TPRC, including space for seniors’ programs, is moving forward. The creation of accessible, appropriate spaces for programs to meet the current and future needs of Port Hope’s seniors is exciting and we look forward to the opportunities this new space will present.”
Peter Huffman, Chair, RCAC Seniors Activity Centre Board.

Represented in the photo from left to right:
Kevin Clement, Dalren Construction
Matt James, Dalren Construction
Councillor John Bickle
Deputy Mayor Les Andrews
Mayor Bob Sanderson
MPP David Piccini
MP Philip Lawrence