It’s been a year since Petrolia unveiled plans for the Y grounds and how it would use a nearly $700,000 grant from the federal government but there is still lots of work to do.

In May 2022, the town received a grant from the federal government committing the municipality to complete $932,000 worth of additions to the Y property. That included two full-sized soccer pitches, an addition to the Y building for a yoga and cycling studio, an outdoor seasonal washroom with a concession stand and picnic areas.

It also included parking for 110 cars near the soccer fields.

But to date, the soccer field has been graded however weeds are now growing there. Work has not started yet on the new yoga and cycling studio either.
The federal government extended the timeline the municipality has to use the grant.

Petrolia CAO, Rick Charlebois, says the engineering firm is still working on the project.

“The community recreation project is moving ahead as expected.
“The engineering firm is days aways from releasing the civil works tender for the soccer pitch construction, storm drains and utilities. The tender documents for the addition to the YMCA are nearly complete.

“Once completed, we will do one last review by town staff, YMCA staff and get in front of Council for comments,” he wrote in an email to The Independent in August.

“The public washrooms/change room is at the same stage”

The town also has plans to reconstruct parts of Tank Street, from the community centre to Discovery Line. It’s estimated to cost $895,000. That work may still happen, according to Charlebois.

“We are targeting this fall to reconstruct the north end of Tank Street. If we cannot complete the work this year, it will move to next year.”