By Brandy Zimmerman
Renovations on the Plant Pool have been delayed by at least a year after city budget wrangling cut most of the project’s funding.
The city originally pledged to give $4.2 million to the project, but the amount was decreased to $1 million and placed in a reserve fund, when the budget was approved by city council on Jan. 17.
The original city budget was dependent on a plan to refinance Ottawa Hydro, giving the city an extra $16 million in the budget, says Somerset City Coun. Elisabeth Arnold.
But in early December, that windfall was put on hold when the province put a halt to the Ottawa Hydro changes until after amalgamation.
“There was $16 million in the budget that had to be taken out. One of the casualties is the Plant Pool,” Arnold says.
The money added in this year’s budget increases the reserve fund to $3 million for the project, nearly half of the $6.2 million required. In both the 1998 and 1999 budgets, city council put $1 million into the reserve fund.
The original budget amount would have fully funded the project, meaning construction could begin this fall and the pool would open in 2001.
Construction will now be delayed until the new amalgamated city council decides what to do with the project.
“I’m encouraged that council decided to re-allocate money to the project,” Arnold says. “It gives me a lot of hope that, though there was a delay, the project will come to fruition.”
The 76-year-old Plant Pool facility, located at the corner of Preston and Somerset streets, has been closed since 1996 when the building was declared structurally unsafe.
The planned renovations would include rebuilding the existing structure, with the exception of two walls, enlarging the pool, as well as adding meeting facilities and a small gym, says Plant Pool Recreation Association member Sally Rutherford.
While the decrease in city funds and the delay is disappointing, the reserve fund may help the group’s fundraising efforts, Rutherford says.
“The reserve fund gives us a basis to find private sector donors,” she says. “It’s difficult to get anybody to buy into it without support from the local government.”
The group plans to seek corporate sponsorship for the project.
They will be focusing on local fundraising and equipment for the adjacent Plouffe Park until next year, after the new city council decides if it wants to continue the project, Rutherford says.
“We are looking for major corporate sponsorship, but I don’t think we’ll see that until much closer to construction,” she says.
The group hopes to begin construction in 2003. Once completed, the Plant Pool facility will hold recreation programs throughout the year.
Some summer programs are currently offered at Plouffe Park.
“The support we’ve had in the city and the kids that have come out to the programs show there’s a need for this kind of program in our area,” Rutherford says. “We need the facility so we can run programs year round.”
The next obstacle for the renovation project is to make sure the money in reserve funds will stay ear-marked for the project in the amalgamated city, Rutherford says.
The new city council may decide to use the funds for other project, effectively killing the renovation plans.
“One of our challenges is to ensure the project remains a high priority and to make sure they maintain the existing reserve fund,” she says. “We’re really hoping to continue to build on what’s there.”
Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson said he wanted to put money in a reserve fund for the Plant Pool project so it would be a priority for the new amalgamated city council.