Petrolia is getting $700,000 from the federal and provincial governments to make the Petrolia Y Community Centre a “fitness and wellness hub.”

But exactly what will be done with the money – which will include $233,000 from Petrolia taxpayers to complete the proposed $932,000 of work – isn’t clear and has not been officially approved by town council.

In a report to council, Dave Menzies, director of facilities and community services, says “over the last seven months MIG Engineering has been working with the town through this process” and that “our objectives are by February 28, 2023, The Corporation of the Town of Petrolia will improve the Petrolia YMCA Community Centre located on 360 Tank Street.”

Menzies, in the report, says the project includes building a wellness studio, new washrooms, sports court, soccer pitches, parkette, landscaped garden, pathways, and additional parking spaces.

Mayor Brad Loosley says the town recently purchased more land around the Y to set up soccer fields.

The current fields will soon become housing. Loosley says the idea is to create the fields and outdoor washrooms for soccer players and eventually those using a splash pad which is in the works by the Petrolia Kiwanis Club.

“The project will help create for the residents of Petrolia and those from surrounding communities, a fitness and wellness hub close to the main street in Petrolia that will encourage the participation of individuals of all ages and all abilities,” says Menzies in the report adding the staff and the engineers will hold an open house “once all the details are laid out.”

Council approved a contract with the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario for the cash Monday without seeing any detailed plans on what will actually be done.

The contract bylaw with the Fed Dev does give some clue as to when the work will take place.

A detailed design will be complete by May 31, tenders for the contract complete by June 30 and construction underway by July 31. The outdoor work is to be complete by the fall and the indoor work will be Feb. 28, 2023 according to the contract approved at council Monday.

Loosley is pleased the federal and provincial governments have given money to improve the Y adding it will help the town complete a number of projects which have been long planned.

But when asked if he could explain the details of the project, Loosley would only say “We’ve had the recreation master plan that was done about a year ago and approved by council and some of that may be incorporated there.”

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The Independent asked the mayor why council had not approved any proposed plans publicly before the grant request was sent in.

“If it doesn’t request a motion of council, I’ve encouraged staff to apply, but it still has to come back to this council to approve that those changes or developments or to say, ‘No, we’re not going to put in our portion.’
“I know it (the plan) is vague but it still has to come back to council.”

The Petrolia Kiwanis Club had also pledged to build a splash pad at the Petrolia Y.

Loosley added some of the reason the details haven’t come to the public is the federal and provincial governments tell municipalities not to announce the grants until they release the details.