Yorkton pool project receives federal funding

YORKTON - The City of Yorkton has received $450,000 through Prairies Economic Development Canada, to upgrade the dehumidifier and air exchange system at the Access Communications Water Park. Yorkton Mayor Mitch Hippsley said the money, through the Canada Community Revitalization Fund, is of course good news.

“We applied for it,” he said, adding it’s never a sure thing to have a grant application accepted. “We crossed our fingers.”

These funds are targeted towards dehumidification and air exchanging in the Access Communications Water Park.“We had budgeted for it (the project),” offered Hippsley, adding the federal dollars will cut the cost of the project for the city, freeing up $450,000 of budgeted dollars which are now available to invest somewhere else if Council so chooses.

The project will revitalize an existing community asset that sees over 80,000 individual visits each year.

“Our water park is a huge drawing card for our fine city,” stated Hippsley in a release. “By updating the air quality systems we will be prolonging the life of our facility, reducing ongoing maintenance and repair costs, and ensuring safe, clean amenities for our residents and visitors to enjoy.” 

The original dehumidifier and air exchange system was purchased in 1992, which was then retrofitted for the water park during renovations in 2004 and 2005. Upgrading the system will improve the quality of air in the facility and provide the appropriate humidity control to increase the lifespan of the Access Communications Water Park. 

The Canada Community Revitalization Fund (CCRF) is designed to help communities across Canada build and improve community infrastructure so they can rebound from the effects of the pandemic.