Players of all ages and levels took over the gaming space, well before its official inauguration in the presence of municipal elected officials and other community leaders. On Sunday afternoon, we celebrated the completion of a long-awaited sports infrastructure project.
Some dribbled at high speed and threw orange balloons at the start of the family celebration. The mayor, Robert Benoît, was even there. Good free food and friendly competitions were on the agenda. All under the musical rhythm. As Halloween approached, workshops were held to make fall decorations to spruce up the park for the rest of the season.
<img data-chromatic="ignore" alt="From left to right: Linda Graham (municipal councilor), Jonathan Fortin (deputy general manager, clerk and director of legal affairs), Marie-José Auclair (municipal councilor) and Robert Benoît (mayor of Sutton).” class=”c-image” loading=”lazy” src=”https://lescoopsdelinformation-la-voix-de-lest-prod.web.arc-cdn.net/resizer/v2/KBWYBXKYSFH2ZJVPOK2WPJ26UA.jpg?auth=e1f5ecbf15015617ce7706c7bd8fbbf59ab01b0ecb1dcf703b4b97caee171df2&smart=true&width=600&height=400″ srcset=”https://lescoopsdelinformation-la-voix-de-lest-prod.web.arc-cdn.net/resizer/v2/KBWYBXKYSFH2ZJVPOK2WPJ26UA.jpg?auth=e1f5ecbf15015617ce7706c7bd8fbbf59ab01b0ecb1dcf703b4b97caee171df2&smart=true&width=137&height=91 137w, https://lescoopsdelinformation-la-voix-de-lest-prod.web.arc-cdn.net/resizer/v2/KBWYBXKYSFH2ZJVPOK2WPJ26UA.jpg?auth=e1f5ecbf15015617ce7706c7bd8fbbf59ab01b0ecb1dcf703b4b97caee171df2&smart=true&width=200&height=133 200w, https://lescoopsdelinformation-la-voix-de-lest-prod.web.arc-cdn.net/resizer/v2/KBWYBXKYSFH2ZJVPOK2WPJ26UA.jpg?auth=e1f5ecbf15015617ce7706c7bd8fbbf59ab01b0ecb1dcf703b4b97caee171df2&smart=true&width=384&height=256 384w, https://lescoopsdelinformation-la-voix-de-lest-prod.web.arc-cdn.net/resizer/v2/KBWYBXKYSFH2ZJVPOK2WPJ26UA.jpg?auth=e1f5ecbf15015617ce7706c7bd8fbbf59ab01b0ecb1dcf703b4b97caee171df2&smart=true&width=512&height=341 512w, https://lescoopsdelinformation-la-voix-de-lest-prod.web.arc-cdn.net/resizer/v2/KBWYBXKYSFH2ZJVPOK2WPJ26UA.jpg?auth=e1f5ecbf15015617ce7706c7bd8fbbf59ab01b0ecb1dcf703b4b97caee171df2&smart=true&width=720&height=480 720w” width=”600″ height=”400″/>
An official inauguration in the presence of elected officials is not held without a speech. Officials provided a brief history of a project that required the contribution of several community stakeholders. What’s more, the construction of the famous field was financed in part by a $15,000 grant received as part of the challenge Together, everything is better from ParticipACTION. In 2022, the people of Sutton won the prize for the most active community in Quebec.
“The project took off with this challenge and the community mobilized around the same objective. We accumulated more than 3.8 million minutes of sports and physical activity. Sixteen organizations and 275 citizens joined the movement to win the mention and the scholarship,” first reported Jonathan Fortin, notably clerk and deputy general manager of the Town of Sutton.
The municipal authority financed the majority of a project requiring a sum of approximately $60,000. The work began in the fall of 2023 and ended last June, among other things, with the installation of the baskets. There are also new street furniture at the multi-sport park. In addition to basketball and water games nearby, you can play baseball or hockey there.
“All this work was not accomplished in the blink of an eye. We counted on the help of the Recreation, Community Life and Culture Department. Not to mention the contribution of the Public Works team, whether among other things for preparing the land, digging or installing street furniture,” added Mr. Fortin, thanking Élizabeth Deit and Charlotte Jacques of Leisure, community life and culture department.
Friends of youth
Marie-José Auclair then took the floor. The District 2 municipal councilor first welcomed the guests, humorously saluting the basketball talents of Mayor Robert Benoît.
“The City cares about physical activity and young people. Our community is shaped by all the people who live there. This addition to sports infrastructure is important and aligns with our Families and Seniors Policy. We went to meet young people in 2022 in a spirit of consultation. The idea of building a basketball court came up, a place where they can meet, socialize and fraternize,” she said.
“Basketball is a very popular sport! We already find a ball league that practices just a stone’s throw from the baseball field. A park that is widely used and well animated during themed parties, particularly at Halloween.”
— Robert Benoît, mayor of Sutton
The Town of Sutton was also recognized as a Child-friendly municipality and the construction of the basketball court adds to other past or recent measures that affect local youth. Ms. Auclair notably listed the creation of beautiful murals, the redevelopment of Goyette-Hill Park, a project aimed at making travel to school safer and the establishment of recognition aimed at promoting the contribution of teenagers to community life.
