Council has committed money to Centennial Park improvements as it awaits a decision on one of its Canada 150 grant applications.
The Centennial Park Solar Lighting and Pathway Upgrade project includes an asphalt resurfacing of the park pathway and solar lighting fixtures along it.
The project's total cost is $208,505 but the town is seeking a grant from Western Economic Diversification to cover half of it, at $104,252.
Chief operating officer Doug Wagstaff said he does not expect an answer from the federal department until six months after the application, which was made in June.
Western Economic Diversification asked for a council motion committing to the funding in order for the town's application to be considered further. Council has not yet begun deliberations on its 2017 capital budget.
"This was an unusual part of our process because it was preceding the discussions of the overall budget," Wagstaff said.
Originally, the Centennial Park project also included erecting permanent prairie village silhouettes where the Kiwanis historical village goes up every holiday season.
However, that part didn't meet at least two of three criteria for the grant: support of indigenous people, advancement to a green economy and celebration of Canada's 150th birthday. As a result, the silhouettes were dropped from the application, bringing the project cost down.
The town has also applied for Canada 150 grants from the Department of Canadian Heritage. Proposed projects include pop-up photo booths, a commemorative sculpture and a permanent stage or amphitheatre in Centennial Park.
Wagstaff said he's expecting about a six-month wait on those applications as well.
