A major corporate entity is proving once again how much it values the community it lives and works in.
Construction of a large multi-use public facility featuring picnic tables, an indoor kitchen, concession and storage for the soccer club will move forward after Zellstoff Celgar confirmed a substantial financial contribution to the building fund.
The Castlegar Rotary Clubs have been conducting a fundraising drive to build the new covered picnic facility at Millennium Park, which the city is developing into a regionally significant outdoor recreation center. The park currently contains soccer fields, an outdoor gym, walking trails, fitness equipment and three large man-made swimming ponds which will officially open on August 4th.
Construction of the new 30.5 by 18 metre (110 foot by 60 foot) covered facility will provide a gathering place for everyday use and will be available for booking of large social events including weddings, anniversaries, birthday parties, children/youth and seniors outings, church and social group gatherings and picnics.
Similar facilities are located in Trail’s Gyro Park and Birchbank picnic grounds alongside the Columbia River and at Lakeside Park in Nelson. The City of Castlegar currently has no such facility.
“We’re excited to be a major contributor to this project,” said Kevin Anderson, Managing Director of Operations and Technical at Zellstoff Celgar. “We value our employees, their families and the community that supports us, and the Celgar Pavilion will provide a lasting legacy where we and others can come together to enjoy events. It’s something all of our employees can be proud to be a part of.”
Other donors to the project include the two Rotary clubs, Castlegar Soccer Association, Columbia Basin Trust, Kootenay Savings Credit Union, Heritage Credit Union and the City of Castlegar and Area J which are providing land, services and equipment.
Construction of the $359,000 ‘Celgar Pavilion’ is scheduled to begin this fall and completion is expected by the spring of 2015.