Red Deer County will provide $28,500 for rodeo and skatepark projects in Delburne.
Council considered a $48,000 request on Tuesday from the Delburne Futures Committee to go towards a proposed $262,000 skatepark and bike skills park.
Local fundraisers, including students, have raised $101,000 and hope to land a $125,000 provincial grant. That leaves them about $78,000 short and they asked the county to match $48,000 in support, including in-kind donations, from the Village of Delburne.
County councillors expressed their support for the project and the work of local youngsters to make it happen, but were concerned Delburne was getting more than an equitable share of county funding. About $322,000 has been given to projects in the village since 2000.
Coun. Christine Moore said she applauded the local initiative but “we need to be really cautious about setting a precedent.”
Mayor Jim Wood also wanted to ensure that all of the county’s urban partners were treated equally and did not want to see one community pitted against another for funding.
Council agreed to give Delburne $25,000.
Another $3,500 was approved for a separate request from the Delburne Ag Society Hillbilly Stomp Committee. The group asked for $5,000 as part of a $10,500-project to replace panels and gates used to secure livestock at the ag building, which is used for the rodeo events school program. Bull riding, steer riding and bull fighting schools are available.
Council felt the county should not be expected to cover half of the project.