News Release

For immediate release
December 21, 2004

Project Announced to Enhance Park

Sydney, N.S. – A project to initiate a major revitalization of a local landmark Park was announced today by the Honourable Mark Eyking, MP for
Sydney-Victoria.

The Cape Breton Regional Municipality (CBRM) will oversee the revitalization of Wentworth Park, located in Sydney. The Park has been integral to life in Sydney for more than two hundred years. First established in 1785, Wentworth Park has undergone numerous changes in the intervening years. The last significant upgrade occurred in the 1960s.

“Wentworth Park is a focal point for the community. It is the largest green area in Sydney and has great potential for increased recreational and tourism use,” says MP Mark Eyking. “When combined with the soon-to-be completed reconstruction of Kings Road, the Park will provide a much improved gateway to the downtown area,”

Improvements to the Park will include the construction of new pathways, light standards, landscaping around the ponds, bridges and a link to the Sydney Boardwalk.

The total estimated cost of the project is $625,000. ECBC will provide a
non-repayable contribution totalling $500,000 through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency’s Strategic Community Investment Fund.

The Strategic Community Investment Fund provides $135 million over five years to help communities in Atlantic Canada create an environment that encourages and enhances economic development.

Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation offers programs in support of economic development initiatives and is responsible for delivering ACOA's programs on Cape Breton Island and in the Mulgrave area.

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FOR BROADCAST USE ONLY:

FUNDING WAS ANNOUNCED TODAY BY MARK EYKING, MP FOR
SYDNEY-VICTORIA FOR A MAJOR REVITALIZATION OF WENTWORTH PARK IN SYDNEY.

IMPROVEMENTS WILL INCLUDE THE CONSTRUCTION OF NEW PATHWAYS, LIGHT STANDARDS, LANDSCAPING AROUND THE PONDS, BRIDGES AND A LINK TO THE SYDNEY BOARDWALK.

THE TOTAL ESTIMATED COST OF THE PROJECT IS $625,000. ECBC WILL PROVIDE A NON-REPAYABLE CONTRIBUTION TOTALLING $500,000 THROUGH ACOA’S STRATEGIC COMMUNITY INVESTMENT FUND.

MP MARK EYKING SAYS WENTWORTH PARK IS A FOCAL POINT FOR THE COMMUNITY AND HAS GREAT POTENTIAL FOR INCREASED RECREATIONAL AND TOURISM USE.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT:

Valérie Poulin
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Joseph McGuire
Minister of Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
(613) 941-7241

Office of Mark Eyking, MP
Sydney-Victoria
Tel: (902) 567-6275

D.A. Landry
ECBC Communications
Tel: (902) 564-3617