The Tracadie Community Centre has received a grant from the Community Development Fund for the construction of a new park for the area. The park will be located between existing recreational and educational facilities and will serve as a focus and an anchor for the community.
Currently, the area has a community centre, ball and soccer fields and an outdoor rink which are near the school and a senior's housing complex. The new park will expand these facilities to include a one kilometre historical nature trail, a second ball diamond, an upgraded children's playground and flower beds and shrub gardens.
"The expanded park will help give the area an even stronger sense of being a community," said Development Minister Don MacKinnon. " The people of this area identified this development as important to the growth and well being of their community. The Community Development Bureau is happy to support them."
The Community Development Bureau is composed of ministers from four departments of government: Development, Health and Social Services, Technology and Environment and Education.
"Keeping people healthy is an important part of community development," said Health and Social Services Minister Mildred Dover. " With expanded facilities, this area will be able to offer all it's citizens a chance to participate in recreational activities. It also builds on this area's existing strengths and makes it an even more attractive place to live."
The park will cover approximately 15 acres. Some of the land is owned by the community. The rest is leased to the community at no cost by area residents Donald and Reg MacDonald.
A number of community groups have participated in the development of the park. They include: Tracadie Sports and Recreation, Tracadie Lions Club and Tracadie Home and School.
The Community Development Fund supports projects which have been identified by communities as important to their continued viability and growth. The Bureau's contribution to the park was announced on Thursday March 16, 2000 by Ministers MacKinnon and Dover.
The park will be named after Michael Smith. Smith was an active member of the Tracadie community who had a particular interest in and dedication to sport and recreation.