Burke Mountain Athletic Park opens tonight with ribbon-cutting event

Burke Mountain Athletic Park is set to open tonight with a ribbon-cutting event running from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday. Planned activities include mini golf, a ride-on train, try-it sessions with sports organizations, light refreshments and speeches from elected officials.

The 8.9-acre park includes an artificial-turf field, four tennis courts and a six-lane, rubberized 400-metre running track designed with an eight-lane, 100-metre straightaway. The lit field has lines for soccer, field hockey and field lacrosse.

While the Burke Mountain school is under construction, a free shuttle will run between Minnekhada Middle School and the park every 20 minutes from 4:15 to 7:15 p.m. Coun. Dennis Marsden previously assessed annual operating and asset-replacement costs at $750,000, or an estimated 0.33 per cent tax increase.

The city and school district acquired the 23-acre property more than a decade ago. The school district owns 14.2 acres, slightly more than 60 per cent of the site, which is earmarked for a high school, middle school and grass sports field. Its portion is also planned to include a 60-stall parking lot available to the public outside school hours.