The Municipality of Brockton has started construction on new accessible washrooms at the Bruce Power Regional Soccer Park.
The municipality had previously received capital grant funding through the Canada Infrastructure Program, and after delays and waiting for the soccer season to come to a close, they’re finally able to start the work.
Mayor Chris Peabody says an increase in popularity for the sport made the demand for the washrooms more apparent.
“The community is very excited. Since we’ve been on the project, soccer numbers in Brockton have gone from 400 participants to 600. So the demand and the need for the washroom is there.”
Soccer is also growing in popularity amongst a range of age groups, spanning from 4 years old to adults.
Part of the construction work will also include the addition of a concession stand, which will be useful for athletes and spectators, but also open the municipality to the possibility of hosting tournaments in the future.
The CIP funding will bankroll a 1593+ square foot building that will house the accessible washrooms, change rooms, the concession stand..
The project supports Brockton’s initiatives to strengthen the soccer parks’ infrastructure and motivate more people to participate in local sports teams.
Peabody adds that this isn’t the end for recreational facilities in the municipality, as more is planned if they are able to secure federal funding for a new arena.
“We have applied for federal funding under a green grant for a new community centre and arena, which would go beside the soccer field.”
When speaking to the increase in community sports engagement, Peabody says “I think it’s great. We had a bit of a struggle to bring this soccer field project. It took us about five years to get the field built, and another five years to get the funding for the washrooms. It’s great to see the growth of the sport. It’s one of those things where a small group of volunteers and the municipality had this vision of having world-class soccer fields and we invested the money into it, and now the sport is growing.”
