Township council has unanimously endorsed a bid for a $1 million Western Economic Diversification grant for a synthetic-turf soccer/softball field at Willoughby Community Park.

The bid, if successful, could open the park up for major field events, said David Leavers, the Township’s director of recreation, culture and parks.

And council also endorsed an application for a smaller grant, for $130,000, for a bike park, children’s play area and batting cage, at Aldergrove Athletic Park.

Western Economic Diversification’s new Recreational Infrastructure Canada Program provides one-third stimulus funding for “shovel-ready” infrastructure projects.

The $1 million grant, if secured, will be put toward the $3 million cost of a combination soccer/softball artificial-turf field, which will include lights for two fields.

Leavers said that both projects are contingent on receiving the federal money.

The new recreational infrastructure program requires that municipalities obtain the other two-thirds of funding either from provincial or municipal funds, community organizations or the private sector.

Projects must begin and materially be completed before March 31, 2011.

The maximum federal contribution to any one project is $1 million.

On June 1, a delegation of the Langley Girl’s Soccer Association, led by Toni Burgess, came before council to discuss the funding opportunity for a synthetic-turf field at Willoughby Community Park.

Leavers said that if the Township is successful in obtaining the $1 million Recreation Infrastructure grant, for Willoughby, the Township would contribute another $1.4 million, and Community Sports Partners have $280,000 cash to contribute immediately, and will commit another $320,000 paid over five years.

Burgess told council that the Langley Field Sport Association recently voted in support of partnering with Langley United Youth Soccer Association, and Langley Field Lacrosse on the Willoughby park project.

The Community Sports Partners would obtain a $320,000 Township loan which the sports groups commit to paying back over five years.

Leavers said a synthetic-turf field gets six times the play of a regular grass or “sand-turf” field, because the artificial turf facility will be lighted, opening up night scheduling, and synthetic-field play need not be restricted to maintain the quality of the pitch.

And the footprint of a combination soccer/softball synthetic field will be significantly larger than a soccer field only, adding greater flexibility for soccer/field lacrosse training.

Willoughby Community Park currently has two artificial turf fields, a third will open up the potential for larger events, Leavers said.

“When you can group three of these fields (at one location) you really open up opportunities for hosting major field events,” he said.

And adding the softball field is expected to bring support from the softball organizations, as the field will be more playable in wet conditions, and would require less field maintenance.

If the $130,000 Recreation Infrastructure Canada grant is approved for Aldergrove Athletic Park, the balance of the $390,000 project will be shared by the Township ($175,000), Aldergrove Minor Baseball Association, which has promised $50,000 and the Rotary Club of Aldergrove, which will contribute $35,000.

This proposal includes development of a 1.1-acre bike park, a new double-sized batting cage and a children’s playground.

Council also approved sending a letter to MP Mark Warawa, identifying Willoughby Community Park as the Township’s first priority for the Recreation Infrastructure Canada grant.