The Rotary Club of Olds has secured the naming rights for the new athletic park currently being constructed along 70th Avenue, just north of the Cornerstone area.
The Town of Olds made that announcement Monday, Sept. 25.
Under the deal, the club will donate a total of $500,000 to the town over a period of up to five years, beginning with an immediate $50,000 donation. In return, the park will be named the Rotary Athletic Park of Olds over the "natural lifetime of the facility," according to a town news release.
When completed next summer, the park will contain soccer pitches, and baseball and softball diamonds. Stripping and grading, and further construction of underground services for the park occurred this past summer.
The town has committed $3 million over its 2017-2018 budgets toward construction of the multipurpose athletic park.
The town hired consultant Jordan Cleland to obtain more funds to provide various amenities such as enhanced batting cages, bleachers and concessions at the combined 38.52-acre site. As of Sept. 22, he had raised a total of $673,330 toward that goal.
Cleland says via its funding commitment, the Rotary Club of Olds has "stepped up to the plate and scored a golden goal for youth and (the) spring/summer sports community in Olds."
Naming rights for individual fields in the complex are still up for grabs, he indicates.
Rotary Club of Olds president Peter Premachuk says this is a big commitment for the organization.
"This contribution was well outside the norm for service clubs of our size in a community of just under 10,000 (people)," he says. "Our board and club wanted an impactful project for the youth of Olds.
"We could not make this commitment without the continued support from the citizens of Olds and Mountain View County at our fundraisers," he adds.
"This facility is needed in our growing community and our donation is part of Rotary's ongoing support to youth-oriented programs in the area."
Premachuk notes the donation is predicated on the success of the club's various fundraising events like this fall's East Coast Kitchen Party on Oct. 28 and its spring golf tournament, as well as future fundraising ventures.
Outgoing mayor Judy Dahl is grateful to the Rotary Club for making this commitment.
"This is simply outstanding," she says. "Rotary's motto is ëservice above self' and I can't think of a clearer example of that motto than this incredible gesture of support to the youth, volunteer coaches and their fans."
"The community of Olds is a special place," she adds, "and our volunteers in this area make such a difference."
The Rotary Club of Olds has "stepped up to the plate and scored a golden goal for youth and (the) spring/summer sports community."JORDAN CLELAND FUNDRAISER
