A new park in a developing neighbourhood on Burke Mountain will be built for more than $1 million.
But to help pay for Queenston Park, city council voted 8-1 this week to take $300,000 out of another Burke park project fund plus $85,000 from general revenue.
Coun. Craig Hodge, chair of the city's sports council and a Burke Mountain resident, argued the extra cash is needed to build the Smiling Creek green space because council added more features to the initial plan that, in March, was budgeted at $620,000.
Those new components, including making the park more accessible and adding a sports court, were requested by the community.
The $300,000 will be withdrawn from the Gilley's Trail Park account, which city managers said likely won't be used until 2016.
Newly elected Coun. Bonita Zarrillo opposed the additional spending, saying council should stick with its original budget.
jwarren@tricitynews.com
