South Frontenac Recreation Projects Back On Stream, Thanks to Anonymous Donor

As South Frontenac Council was struggling to hold the 2026 budget increase to an affordable level, projects from various departments ended up being cancelled, or deferred to another year.

The recreation facilities capital budget was no exception.

As part of the 2026 capital budget deliberations, township staff presented a list of proposed recreation and facilities capital projects for consideration by Council.

Because of changes to the township’s long range financial plan, four projects were deferred, for a total of $52,000 in cost cutting..

This did not sit well with at least one individual with connections to the township.

“Staff were contacted by a community donor who expressed interest in supporting recreation infrastructure improvements. As a result, funding has been received to advance several of the projects that were previously removed from the 2026 capital program,” said a report to this week’s council meeting by Tim Laprade, Manager of Recreation and Facilities.

The anonymous donation of $52,000 will be spread across the township.

Among the projects that will now go ahead are court improvements, including 2 wind screens at Sydenham Point Park, and one at Gerald Ball Park (Sunbury), for $5,200. Another $2,800. will go for rolling nets, one at Centennial Park (Harrowsmith) and the other at Gerald Ball Park.

Two bleacher units, at a cost of $14,500 each, will be installed at Sydenham Point. Ten picnic tables, at $1,000 each, will be purchased for various parks throughout the township.

Finally, $5,000 will go towards replacing “engineered wood fibre” at various playgrounds in the township.