Officials in St. Clair Township are hoping successful grant applications could help pay for the remaining upgrades at the Moore Sports Complex.
Council supported a request from staff to apply for a grant from Ontario's Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund, which is investing up to $200 million over three years to support new and revitalized sport and recreation facilities.
Community Services Director Kendall Lindsay said repairs are still needed at the Mooretown facility.
"We would like to look at replacing the pool pack," said Lindsay. "The second wave of the stream are things that certainly could be done and was always the plan to continue with that building when we did get the money to replace the refrigeration system to keep the arena there for another 50-years. Well we've got to keep the rest of the building there for another 50-years. So there is still more money to be spent."
Lindsay shared that a previous application submitted in 2019 failed.
"We spent a lot of time applying for that grant. We had meetings after meetings and it took a lot of staff time and we ended up not getting it. But, that was right in the heart of COVID... so, who knows the reasons why we didn't get it. I thought we had a great chance."
Lindsay said it will be a quick turnaround for staff, since the deadline to submit an application for the first stream of funding is October 29.
Councillor Cathy Langis supported a $1 million funding commitment, hoping to land an equal amount from the province in the first funding stream, for pool tank restoration and pool pack/HVAC system upgrades.
"Whenever we can get outside resources and funding to improve our community, I think we should do that," said Langis.
Council also committed $10 million toward an estimated $20 million expansion of the complex, which would see a new therapy pool built, the pool deck expanded and construction of new fully accessible change rooms.
A new fitness area -- offering diverse programming to meet community needs -- would also be created.
That funding would be allocated in Stream 2, with applications due by March 31, 2027.
Infrastructure funding was received in 2022 to build a new compressor room, install floor heating, and replace system piping throughout the rink floor.
The facility, with two ice pads and a pool, was built in the late 1960s.