The Municipality of Lambton Shores is hoping to receive grant funding to move forward with plans to revitalize the downtown Forest parkette.
Municipal staff were recently directed by council to apply for the My Main Street Community Activator Grant, which offers up to $250,000 to support community projects in southern Ontario.
The Sarnia Lambton Economic Partnership (SLEP) previously gathered public feedback and worked with the municipality to develop a revitalization plan for the downtown area.
Proposed upgrades to an existing underutilized parkette on King Street West included a seating area, gardens and trees, mixed-use seating, and a stage for local performers.
However, such plans have not been able to move forward due to budget limitations.
The three concept designs ranged from $217,800 to $224,800.
Mayor Doug Cook said he was excited to see the proposed designs.
"We've been trying to get something revitalized in the downtown Forest core for a number of years and if we're successful in getting this grant it will actually create something that's very viable," he said.
"We're hoping that we're successful. We've done a lot of work with SLEP to get to this point so it would be nice to have the grant money to carry through with the rest of the program."
Cook said without grant funding, the municipality does not have the budget to go ahead with the project this fiscal year, so the courtyard will be maintained as is.
"Right now, there is the parkette area, it just needs to be cleaned up a bit and spruced up," he said. "We're doing work in the Rotary Park to get rid of some old trees and things like that."
If the application is unsuccessful, Cook said plans for the revitalization project will be held for future consideration when other grant opportunities arise.