Owen Sound officials don’t expect to get final approval for Infrastucture money for the Regional Rec complex until next spring.
Councillor and the Head of the Steering Committee on the Regional Rec Centre, Jim McManaman, tells Bayshore Broadcasting News they have basically been told no for now.
McManaman says at the same time, the city has been encouraged to push ahead with the 38 million dollar project.
He says because there are hundreds of similar projects getting underway in Canada, the Federal government is hesitant about granting any extension to the March 31st 2011 deadline.
However, McManaman says Owen Sound hopes to shorten the time frame for construction and he is optimistic they will be far enough along next Spring that Ottawa will approval some nine million dollars in funding.
He hopes they have close to 75 per cent of the project done by March 31st next year, and doesn’t believe the government will turn off the taps at that point.
A photo opportunity was held at Victoria Park in Owen Sound on Thursday to highlight construction at the site.
Dozens of figure skaters, lacrosse players, swimmers and others turned out for the event.