Castlegar's Rotary clubs are one step closer to completing their vision for the Celgar Pavilion at Millennium Park. The group has received a $5000 grant from RDCK Area I and another $5000 from Area J. The money will be used to build picnic tables for the pavilion.
Constructing the pavilion was a Rotary led initiative that brought together citizens, businesses, local governments, Columbia Basin Trust and other funding partners including Zellstoff Celgar for whom the pavilion is named. "We had a vision and so we started soliciting governments and businesses, etc., the reception was so good we had to redesign our building to be bigger," said Rotary Pavilion project co-chair Dave Kraski. "We are really excited that we were able to bring a number of groups together."
Rotary's intention was to include the tables as part of the original project, but all of the funding that they had was used up by constructing the pavilion itself. "We ran out of money and we felt it most important to get the kitchen and infrastructure in," explained Kraski. Rotary members were able at the time to creatively use wood that was left over from the roof to build the temporary tables that are currently in the pavilion.
The group decided to make the tables the focus for this year and has been actively seeking funding to complete the job. Another $10,000 grant request through Columbia Basin Trust Community Initiatives Funding is awaiting final approval.
"We currently are just waiting for funding," said Kraski. "Once we have been approved, we will be on our way to get some tables in."
The plan is to construct 15 five foot by seven foot tables and three wheel chair accessible tables from locally sourced materials. Rotarians will provide the labour to do the work. The group will be consulting with the City of Castlegar on the final design plans as the city will take the ownership of the tables once they are completed. The current design calls for a steel-framed table made with two and a half or three inch wood. The hope is to have the new tables in place by midsummer.