Langley MP Mark Warawa announced federal funding for three local parks and recreation projects Saturday through the Recreation Infrastructure Canada stimulus scheme, which is designed to invest $500 million in recreational facilities across the country over a two-year span.

The federal government will contribute $1 million towards a new $3 million lighted synthetic turf field at Willoughby Community Park, which will be used for baseball, soccer and lacrosse. The Township of Langley will put $1,720,000 towards the cost of the field, and local athletics groups such as Langley United Youth Soccer Association, the Langley Girls Soccer Association and the Langley Minor Lacrosse Association will also pay part of the costs.

Warawa said the new field is an ambitious design.

“It’s going to be one of the biggest in British Columbia,” he said.

Warawa said the synthetic turf is crucial to the field’s appeal, as that will allow it to be used in all weather conditions.

“You have a long-term benefit when you provide fields like this that can be used all year round,” he said. “Grass, you can only use it for part of the year.”

Construction on the field is expected to start in the spring and be finished by the fall of 2010.

Warawa also announced funding for improvements to Langley City Park’s facilities at the football field, including a facility that will contain change rooms, washrooms and an announcer tower.

The federal government will contribute $102,000 towards the project, with $100,000 coming from the provincial government’s Ministry of Housing and Social Development, $50,250 from the City of Langley and the Langley Minor Football Association contributing $94,000.

“It’s going to be a beautiful addition to that facility,” he said. “There were a lot of parents there and they were very pleased.”

Warawa said the new facility comes at a crucial time, as the current facilities at the field are showing their age.

“It’s a much-needed facility,” he said.

Warawa said construction of the new multipurpose facility should start in the next few weeks and be completed by the spring.

A third infrastructure grant went to help the Fort Langley Canoe Club with the costs of refurbishing Fort Langley’s Bedford Dock.

The federal government is contributing $28,930 towards the project, with the Township chipping in another $7,500 and the Canoe Club providing $61,986.

That project is expected to be finished by spring as well.

Warawa said investing in recreational improvements is a key part of the federal government’s economic stimulus plan.

“It’s very important to our government that we build infrastructure that helps Canadians stay fit,” he said.

“These facilities will have benefits for generations, so it’s an excellent investment.”