New Waterford was buzzing on Sept. 4, as the new Gary McDonald Recreation Complex officially reopened. The event featured Cape Breton University’s men’s and women’s soccer teams squaring off and a ceremony that celebrated several sports legacies from New Waterford.
The new amenities include a state-of-the-art artificial turf field, walking track, tennis courts, updates to the ball hockey rink and basketball court, as well as new outbuildings. A new, grass soccer pitch has also been constructed at Colliery Lands Park.
As part of the CBRM Health Care Redevelopment Project, the new recreational fields are the first step towards a community HUB project that will consist of a new, modern health centre, a 60-bed long-term care home, and Breton Education Centre (BEC) school. The education and community components of the Hub will include two gyms, a 500-seat theatre, community wellness centre and space for the community foodbank.
The CBRM Health Care Redevelopment Project also includes a new Cape Breton Cancer Centre, emergency department, critical care department, inpatient beds, surgical suites and maternal/newborn services at Cape Breton Regional Hospital; a new health centre, long-term care home and laundry centre on the Northside; as well as expansions and renovations to Glace Bay Hospital’s emergency department, surgical suites and medical device reprocessing (MDR).
Quick Facts:
- in September 2020, government approved $4.5 million to rebuild two existing sports fields and other recreation facilities in New Waterford;
- MacKinnon Field and Colliery Lands Park are municipal lands. Cape Breton Regional Municipality (CBRM) Council approved the relocation. Future recreation facilities will continue to be owned by CBRM;
- the original artificial turf field is 17 years old;
- construction of the fields began in the summer of 2020.
- Right: Family of the late Gary McDonald cut the ribbon at the opening ceremony of the new, Gary McDonald Recreation Complex in New Waterford.
- Left: A drone image of the newly completed recreational complex that opened in New Waterford on Sept. 4, 2021.