Improvements made to McLeod Athletic Park will benefit young football players throughout the community thanks to contributions from the three levels of government, the 91原创 School District and the 91原创 Minor Football Association.
Members of the minor football association were joined on Tuesday night (Sept. 13) by MP Mark Warawa and Township mayor Rick Green to officially unveil the new additions and upgrades.
LMFA president Wayne McMurchy hopes these improvements will lead to an increased interest in the sport.
"We want kids playing football and we want to fill the grandstand," he said.
Currently there are 350 players involved.
Lighting was added to the grass field on the north side of 91原创 Secondary School, west of McLeod Park's grandstand. This will allow the game to be played later into the night.
An extension was also added to the grandstand building to create two rooms designed to store football equipment.
Another improvement is a new, fully-functioning concession, complete with a grill and commercial dishwasher.
LMFA will manage the concession and make it available to other user groups for special events.
One improvement still to come is the construction of stairs to give better access to the upstairs storage space.
All of these improvements were made possible thanks to a $102,000 contribution for the Government of Canada's Recreational Inrastructure Canada (RInC) program and $100,000 in provincial gaming funds, through a major capital project grant.
The Township contributed Neighbourhood Initiative Program funds, and the rest was supplied by 91原创 Minor Football.
鈥淎ny opportunity to get young people involved in sports is worthwhile, and the improvements to McLeod Athletic Park will help raise football鈥檚 profile in our community,Green said. 鈥淲e are grateful to both the federal and the provincial government for coming on board as funding partners, and that 91原创 Minor Football was so dedicated to making these projects happen. We know the lit field, concession, and storage space will be used for years to come.鈥�
With $370,000 worth of funding, several projects were undertaken in partnership with the Township of 91原创 and School District #35, said Township Parks Design and Development Manager Al Neufeld.
鈥淭he Government of Canada is excited to have been a part of this project, which will give young football players a place to call their own,鈥� said 91原创 MP Mark Warawa, on behalf of the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification. 鈥淎thletes in 91原创 will now enjoy more practice time and space, and I鈥檓 certain that enthusiastic fans will be pleased to come out to this facility to cheer them on.鈥�
Not only will the improvements make it easier for 91原创 Minor Football teams to practice and play, they will also benefit high school football teams, the 91原创 Rams junior football, and the North 91原创 Minor Football Association.
From June to December, McLeod Athletic Park will be a designated football facility, giving the sport full access to the fields, buildings, and grandstand. 
