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By Chantal Wagner

government funds

$3-million worth of upgrades planned for Athletic Park

Oct 6, 2020 | 10:21 AM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The Medicine Hat Athletic Park will see potential upgrades over the next year with infrastructure money from the federal government’s Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP).

Council passed the list of submissions for the money unanimously during Monday’s regular council meeting.

The grant submission is not yet approved by ICIP, the projects are contingent on the receipt of this funding.

Renovations to the park include a shade canopy, seating, fence, gates, and ticket office.

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“From a perspective of sport tourism and our league generally, it’s great to see that other communities are investing in sport tourism and stadiums,” said Medicine Hat Mavericks owner and general manager Greg Morrison. “Just to see that we are in the running for some potential funds is pretty exciting for us.”

The upgrades total $3-million, with $2.24-million of it coming from the federal government.

The city will cover the rest with grants or infrastructure reserves.

Mayor Clugston says the Athletic Park renovations are also part of the waterfront district plans.

“Obviously ours (Athletic Park) is one of the most beautiful in the province with its location. However, it has fallen behind some of the other athletic parks or baseball parks in the province like Okotoks and maybe even Lethbridge and so we have to remain competitive. We have arguably one of the nicest ice surfaces, event centres in the province and we got to keep up. But that’s a great project and you have full council support.”

Morrison added these upgrades, if approved, would do a lot for attracting visitors to Medicine Hat.

“Becoming a big part of the big picture is exciting because it’s more than baseball,” said Morrison. “It’s about events, it’s about community, it’s about quality of life, and we’re happy to be a big part of that because that’s been one of our big mandates.”