BUHLER RECREATION PARK NEWS - 2013

The Board of Directors and Staff of the Buhler Recreation Park, welcome you back for the 2013 season.

The 2012 season got off to a wet beginning, but by mid-June the weather cooperated and we enjoyed another pleasant summer, mostly free of rain and mosquito issues.

Moving forward to the 2013 season we again hope for good weather and safe play.

Park visitors will notice some significant site enhancements that will transform the Buhler Recreation Park from a spring and summer venue to a yearlong recreation destination. As announced by Mayor Sam Katz and Councilor Russ Wyatt with the support of the Provincial Government on January 28, 2013, the Park will be receiving funding under the Recreation Improvement Fund to do some significant improvements.

One of the main improvements will be to fully enclose the canteen building, complete with natural lighting and heaters. This will not only enable us to use the park during the winter months, but will also enable us to better handle the weather conditions in early spring and fall months. Having the canteen area enclosed, will give us the opportunity to host pond hockey tournaments, sno-pitch tournaments and with putting on a family winter carnival. The original vision of the Park has always been to have a 12-month destination for the community and with this funding announcement we are one step closer to realizing that goal.

Other parts of the funding announcement include transforming the main pond into a skating area that will be a place for family and friends to enjoy skating and other activities. Lighting and landscaping will also be a major component of the transformation. A pond aerator with a fountain will also be installed to help combat the issue of mosquitoes by reducing their breeding ground.

Other improvements that will be implemented this year this the support of the leagues that play out of the Park include providing a sunscreen on two of the backstops on the diamonds that the players have said are most affected by direct sunlight.

None of the projects will affect the rates that have been determined by the Board of Directions for the 2013 season.

As with any business or facility, rates are determined by the costs of goods, supplies and labour. This year minimum wage has again risen as well as hydro costs and maintenance supplies. These items do put pressure on our budgets but we are doing our best to keep costs down without sacrificing the quality of maintenance that you have become accustomed to.

We look forward to your patronage in 2013 and hope that the weatherman smiles on us again.