Another sponsorship for new athletic park

Another substantial sponsorship has been secured to support "extras" at a proposed new athletic park in Olds.

Hildebrand Motors will be contributing a total of $25,000 to the ball diamonds and soccer pitches of the future Northwest Olds Athletic Park. The athletic park is slated for construction commencement in the spring of 2017 with a target opening of summer 2018.

The sponsorship will be paid in three instalments over a period of 26 months.

The Town of Olds has committed $3 million over the 2017-2018 budgets to creating more baseball and soccer fields as well as relocating horseshoe pits to the new park, to be located along 70th Street north of the Cornerstone shopping area.

Consultant Jordan Cleland has been hired to "stretch" that funding by raising at least $500,000 for enhancements such as enhanced batting cages, optimal crowning, bleachers, concession or underground irrigation on the combined 38.52-acre site, hence the need for sponsorship.

This week's announcement marks the second major sponsorship for the park.

Last month, town officials and Cleland announced a $50,000 sponsorship towards the goal, provided by Dr. Kyle Craven and Dr. Jasmine Gill, owners of Olds Family Dental Clinic.

In a prepared statement, Hildebrand said "$25,000 is a lot of money for our business, but we absolutely believe in this project and stretching out the payments allows us to maximize our contribution."

Hildebrand said his company, which has been doing business in Olds for more than 28 years, loves to support local causes and initiatives, so this sponsorship fits in well with that.

"Sports have been a huge part of our lives as they are for most of our staff, customers' and friends' lives as well. This project gives us the opportunity to help ensure that athletics in Olds and area continues to flourish," he said.