Neighbourhood Legacy Program

The Neighbourhood Legacy Project was initiated in 2001 by the Dryden Police Service in response to the lack of quality recreational facilities in our Dryden Neighbourhoods. Many facilities enjoyed in the past have fallen into disrepair or have simply vanished.
 
The Project has three main goals:

- Reduce crime by providing youth with quality facilities
- Unite neighbourhoods through a common interest
- Provide the basis to maintain community facilities in perpetuity

A committee was struck consisting of persons with recreation organizational skills, grant writing skills, fundraising skills and interested persons from various neighbourhoods. The committee immediately undertook a needs survey in the City to determine the direction the project should take.

87% of the respondents to the survey indicated that having quality facilities available to youth would keep the crime rate down. While the survey pointed to the traditional facilities such as skating rinks being needed, it also indicated a desire to have a better Youth Center, amphitheatre, and a skate board park located in the City.

Almost half the respondents indicated that they would make contributions to the cause, either financial or physical. The most encouraging result was that almost half of those surveyed indicated that they would belong to a neighbourhood organization that would look after the facilities.

The Committee has agreed to turn its attention first to North Dryden in the area of the small youth center, where the outdoor facilities need serious attention. A multi- use facility incorporating the youth center and enclosed ice surface was the focus of the committee in 2002- 2003. Through the support of City Council and the Neighbourhood Legacy Committee, plans have been finalized for three beach type volleyball courts in three locations of the city.

The committee will continue to work with the community to meet our goals.

Chief MacKinnon with Neighbourhood Legacy Project committee member, Sheldon Hyatt



Dryden Minor Hockey League representatives make a donation to the Neighbourhood Legacy Project