A dog water fountain for the Shaughnessy off-leash park and wheelchair accessible playground equipment at Castle Park elementary are just some of the items the Port Coquitlam Self-Help Matching Grant program will fund this year.
Each year, neighbourhood groups and community organizations put forward projects which, if approved, are 50% funded by the city to a maximum of $10,000.
Four recipients in the 2012 program will receive a total of $20,000 of city funds for their projects, which include:
$7,000 for a new well for ongoing water supply at the Hyde Creek Watershed Society;
$6,000 for a dog water fountain at the Shaughnessy off-leash dog park;
$5,000 to upgrade the playground at Castle Park elementary with wheelchair accessible equipment;
and $2,000 for equipment lock boxes at McLean Park for Port Coquitlam Minor Softball.
All applicants are reviewed by the city's review committee based on a set of criteria. The groups are then recommended to the healthy community committee and eventually approved by council.