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Federal funding benefits Langley parks, museums

Series of announcements laid out more than $23 million in projects for Langley riding
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Langley MP Mark Warawa spent a recent Friday making the rounds of Langley — including a stop at the B.C. Farm Museum in Fort Langley— to announce federal funding for a series of projects. These include improvements to Highway 1 through Langley, as well as upgrades to Williams Park, Willoughby Community Park, Langley Centennial Museum and the farm museum.

Langley museums, parks and roadways will benefit from a federal funding program, introduced to coincide with Canada’s upcoming 150th birthday.

Federal money was rolled out on Friday, July 31, at three separate funding announcements in Langley.

Following Langley MP Mark Warawa’s $23 million funding contribution for Highway One widening and the 216 Street interchange, he made his way to Fort Langley, where he announced the federal government will award $61,000 to the B.C. Farm Museum.

The Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program will help fund renovations, expansions and rehabilitation to existing infrastructure at the museum.

Under the Canada 150 program, the federal government is also providing $250,000 to revitalize Williams Park. The park will get new roofs for the picnic shelters, an interpretive kiosk, new playground equipment, replacement of the outdoor picnic slab and relocation of the well water filtration system.

“Williams Park was originally purchased and opened as a BC 1967 centennial project,” said Township parks manager Al Neufeld.

The popular park hosts various community events and is used as an environmental education centre.

Another park to benefit from federal funding is Willoughby Community Park which will get $130,000 toward a $260,000 project to upgrade and expand the grass amphitheatre and existing stage. The funds will allow for the installation of tiered seating in a semi-circle along the grass berm.

The upgrades will also create space for around 300 people to sit and enjoy civic celebrations, public performances and outdoor entertainment. The Township expects it will be completed in time for a community celebration of Canada’s 150th birthday on July 1, 2017.

Western Economic Diversification (WED) will contribute 50 per cent to the projects, the rest of which will be funded by the Township. The Township has pre-approved the  budget for the projects to correspond with grants provided by WED over the next two fiscal years.

The Langley Centennial Museum will receive $75,000 to add storage and upgraded environmental controls.

The museum houses around 7,000 archival photographs, 9,000 objects and 500 works of art.

“The best presents are the ones that can be enjoyed by everyone,” said Township mayor Jack Froese about the federal funding boosts in Langley.



Monique Tamminga

About the Author: Monique Tamminga

Monique brings 20 years of award-winning journalism experience to the role of editor at the Penticton Western News. Of those years, 17 were spent working as a senior reporter and acting editor with the Langley Advance Times.
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