Two levels of government have pitched in to help out the Clara Hughes Recreation Park.

MP Lawrence Toet (Elmwood-Transcona) made the announcement of a $58,500 Community Improvement Infrastructure Fund grant, on behalf of Minister of State for Western Economic Development Lynne Yelich, at Bronx Park Community Centre on Jan. 8. The money will go to a play structure, benches and other landscaping at the former Kelvin Community Centre site, which operates as a satellite of Bronx Park.

In addition, the City of Winnipeg announced it was putting forth $72,279 toward the playground project.

Coun. Thomas Steen (Elmwood-East Kildonan) said the city was happy to find the extra cash to get the project to where it needed to be.

"We knew we had to get to this level to finish the work," said Steen. "The architectural drawings we’ve received from Scatliff (Murray Miller) are fantastic. We’ve sent them to Clara and she loves them."

Toet, meanwhile, said the relationship between the civic and federal governments had been encouraging throughout the process.

"The best thing that’s happening is the collaborative effort," said Toet. "We’re all serving the same community, and if we work co-operatively, we’ll get a lot more accomplished.

"It’s a great step in the right direction. It’s a lot better than the empty space we had there a couple years back."

The City of Winnipeg and Province of Manitoba had already announced $700,000 for the project back in October. The money will go toward a new skateboard park, hockey/basketball skills area, and entry plaza.

Work on these projects is already underway. Steen said these are part of the first phase of redeveloping the site, and hopes more can be done.

dan.falloon@canstarnews.com