Dryden Rec. Centre. Dryden Rotary Club picture
Hydro One is energizing new life into the Dryden Recreation Centre.
The utility is giving the City $25,000 to help build an accessible, inclusive and family-friendly change space on the pool side.
Dryden’s Community Services Manager Steve Belanger says the room will serve a number of purposes.
“This will be age-resting space for anyone in our community to be able to ensure that they have a place for their own, be it a family, be it an individual who identifies as trans-gender or non-binary or even someone who has accessibility aids or needs.”
Belanger says a lot of preparation went into this idea.
“When we look at these older facilities that were built in the late 70’s or early 80’s, there probably wasn’t enough consideration made for inclusivity, so, I had engineering done a couple of years ago to try and get ready for such an application.”
Belanger says he was thrilled to hear Hydro One shared their dream and vision.
He stresses this will be a wonderful opportunity to encourage more people to participate in programming at the facility, noting “everyone deserves an opportunity to use our facility and have a proper place to get dressed.”
Belanger says construction is scheduled to begin in August or September.
The Dryden Recreation Extension and Modification Committee is donating $5,000, while the City of Dryden has funds set aside for the remaining costs of the project.
Jay Armitage is Vice President, Marketing and Communications with Hydro One and says, “We have a deep responsibility to energize life and support organizations providing the services people depend on in Dryden and all across Ontario. Hydro One is proud to support the Dryden Recreation Centre in their efforts to develop an accessible, inclusive and family-friendly change space so that all feel welcome to participate in their local programming opportunities.”
