Prospect Road and Area Recreation Association
Report of the Chair for the Annual General Meeting
Date: April 29, 2025
of our accomplishments for the year ended March 31, 2025.Before we begin, I would like to extend a sincere thank you to the volunteer Board
of the PRRA. Since our AGM last year, when a largely new Board was voted in, we
have had a steep learning curve. We met for the first time last October and since
then have met every month.
I want to especially thank Jackie Buckland for her dedicated service to the Board
and wish her all the best as she steps away from the Board. I would also like to
thank Koumbie Traore-Thomason for her service on the Board.
Grants Awarded
The Prospect Road and Area Recreation Association is responsible for the fair
allocation of area rate funds to recreation groups in the catchment area from
Goodwood to West Dover.
Recreation is broadly interpreted to include local youth sports, organizations,
public amenities managed by local non-profit groups, and support to the Resource
Opportunities Centre, which manages the Halifax-owned Prospect Road Community Centre.
Area rate funds are estimated to be close to $141,000 for the
taxation year ended March 31, 2026.
Grants to local recreational and leisure groups were $109,882
to 15 organizations for the 2024/2025 season, with groups ranging from the
Prospect Slammers Pickleball to the Prospect Road Community Minor Baseball Association.
Five large grants were also awarded to five community groups through a one-time
Legacy Fund.
We expect to award and disburse a further $141,000 to 13
organizations for the 2025/2026 season.
Many thanks to the Board directors who thoroughly reviewed the applications and
cast their votes on which applications to approve.
Surplus Funds
At the last AGM, a special funding opportunity was approved to create a one-time
funding opportunity called the Legacy Fund. It was established with money that
had accumulated during the pandemic.
The Board anticipated that grants from the fund for long-term projects would not
exceed $40,000.
Initially, the previous Board considered awarding grants totalling
$120,000. After further investigating the surplus funds, the
new Board decided to award $185,000 in grants, which resulted
in four grants of $40,000 and one grant of
$25,000.
These grant recipients will speak later in tonight’s meeting.
The Board also agreed to put $20,000 in reserve for working
capital purposes. The $20,000 will be used in cases of
emergency or to temporarily fund projects.
The Board voted to keep this fund at $20,000 and to replenish
it if and when it is used.
Fields in the Prospect Road Area
Councillor Nancy Hartling is working with HRM Parks and Recreation to create an
inventory of fields in our catchment area before the development of a field plan
for the area.
As the work progresses, the Board will work with Councillor Hartling to decide
how PRRA can support the goal of developing a field inventory and master plan
for the area.
Mowing Contract
Historically, PRRA took responsibility for overseeing the management of mowing
playing fields and parks in our catchment area. The cost of the mowing was
reimbursed to PRRA by HRM.
The work became too onerous for the volunteer PRRA Board, so last year the Board
decided not to renew the mowing contract. It expired in October 2024.
The Resource Opportunities Centre, which manages the Prospect Road Community
Centre, agreed to take over the contract.
PRRA will pay the ROC $2,500 for administrative costs for the
2025 year to help manage the contract.
Halifax Organics Management Facility — Goodwood Community Integration Fund
The PRRA Board voted last year to be the steward of a $325,000
fund awarded to the Goodwood community as part of a $1-million
Community Integration Fund that resulted from the expansion of the Ragged Lake
Composting Facility.
The Board agreed to steward the funds on behalf of Goodwood in order to meet
HRM’s requirement that the money be transferred to a registered not-for-profit
organization.
The Board will continue to work with HRM and the Goodwood community.
Donna Pettipas, a resident of Goodwood, sits on the PRRA Board as a representative
from the community.
Communications
The previous PRRA Board worked hard to streamline the operations of the Board
and simplify the responsibilities of directors.
The current Board will work to further streamline PRRA’s filing system by moving
files online to a shared space.
The Board will also work to develop a good relationship with Councillor Hartling
and to increase communications with the community.
Business Plan and Budget
The business plan and budget for 2025/2026 includes the grants that will be
disbursed in May 2025.
The projected total operating expenses include $185,000 in
Legacy Fund grants, $118,460 in grants, and
$5,900 in administrative expenses.
Total operating expenses are expected to be $309,360.
The business plan and budget will be submitted to HRM along with our financial
statements and the minutes for this meeting. They must be approved by HRM before
the municipality will release the area rate funds for 2025/2026.