Greg Crisanti, who owns the local Tim Hortons, handed Moosomin Parks and Recreation Director, Mike Schwean a cheque for $5,642 recently to go towards the Tim Hortons Outdoor Eventplex at Bradley Park.
“Over the last five years Tim Hortons has donated about $40,000 towards the project. They do it through their Smile Cookie campaign so it differs every year,” said Schwean.
It all started when the Parks and Recreation department of Moosomin approached Brandon and Jolene Banga owned the local store before Crisanti.
“We had approached them (The Bangas) five or six years ago about sponsoring that park and it was something they were interested in. At the time we were just looking for a year and it was Brandon and Jolene’s idea to make a five year commitment and this is the final year of that commitment,” said Schwean.
Since the last touches has been put on the Tim Hortons Outdoor Eventplex, Schwean is satisfied with the work done using the donations.
“We have done what we wanted to do there. When we started, that area was just a wide open weed land. We tore everything out, we put in fresh black dirt and grass. We put in irrigation, the rubber matting, a slab of concrete and the gazebo along with some furniture and fencing,” said Schwean.
The Outdoor Eventplex is one of several projects that the crew at the Communiplex took on this year and Schwean is proud and grateful to all those who helped.
“We tackled a lot of projects and I think our staff deserves a lot of credit. Public works certainly helped us a ton. I am proud of the community, surrounding areas and our sponsors. Without their support we would not have been able to tackle those projects,” said Schwean.
The completion of some of these projects would be an accomplishment in any year, but with a pandemic running havoc on how things used to be done, it is especially commendable to have done so much for the community.
“With everything being shut down this summer it was either lay off staff or tackle some projects,”said Schwean.
With all the funding form the community and sponsors like Tim Hortons, the Recreation department could get to work on some large and small projects.
“It was a massive undertaking in May to look at the projects and also to get the lion’s share of them done,” said Schwean.
Some of the projects that were tackled this year along with the Tim Hortons Outdoor Eventplex include the rink basement and rink, the score clock, the RE/MAXcourt and two ball diamonds.
Greg Crusanti has been involved with this project for the last two years, donating the funds from the Smile Cookie campaign at his Moosomin location.
“The Smile Cookie campaign funds go to non-profit charities. The owners pick a charity in their community that they would like to sponsor or get behind,”said Crusanti
Although Crisanti is in charge now, he is well aware that it was the Bangas before him that decided to fund this eventplex.
“The Bangas and Mike decided for the funds from the campaign to go straight to the town of Moosomin and its Recreation department for the last five years to construct the Tim Hortons Outdoor Eventplex,” said Cristanti.
Cristanti is proud to have been a part of this project and to see it being completed.
“It just looks fantastic. I can’t take the credit. All the credit goes to the Bangas and to our guests that come through the doors and purchase our smile cookies. It has been fantastic the last two years that I have been involved. Mike and town have done a wonderful job,” said Crisanti.
