Town formally accepts multi-million dollar library grant
By Chris Simon

Cookstown's library is one step closer to construction.

Innisfil council formally accepted a $2.85 million grant from the provincial MInistry of Public Infrastructure Renewal, during a recent meeting.

The one time grant will be used to fund the $3.5 million Cookstown public library and community centre project.

"We have a new Cookstown library and community facility with a hefty budget going in now," said councillor Rod Boynton. "The province provided us with a grant to go towards that."

Once complete, the project would feature 9,000 square feet of space, and include adult, young adults and children's sections, program, community and informal "living" rooms, and office space.

An outdoor reading garden and folding partition walls are also a part of the design.

Outside, the centre could also feature a baseball diamond, running track, soccer pitch, tennis courts, multiuse concrete surface and a children's spray pad.

Budget constraints had forced architects to scale back the scope of the project, cutting a washroom and wheelchair accessible doors from entrances facing the outdoor field areas, and holding doors between the walkway and community room from current plans.

However, the grant now ensures the project can be designed as originally planned.

Over 240 applications were approved across the province, totalling $450 million in funding. The program is providing funding for social infrastructure projects like hospitals, schools, universities, roads, bridges, sewers and libraries among other items. Municipalities had to apply for funding in February.