A ten-year agreement for funding partnership between the Portage Regional Recreation Authority and the Portage Rotary Club saw another $5,000 go toward Rotary Republic Park yesterday at the club's luncheon. PRRA general manager David Sattler spoke at the luncheon and received the cheque. Rotary president Cathie McFarlane explains why they've partnered with PRRA.

"It's part of our mandate in the community that we want to support youth. And as you could hear from what David said today, it's really serving a need in our community, and we're able to attract other people to come to our community and see how great Portage is, too. There's a big need there. I'm sure that they'd be interested in doing even more things with us. But we try to spread it around within the community. There are other things as well. But it is a big commitment on our part -- a ten-year commitment."

Sattler adds the partnership's been very successful.

"Rotary has been a great community partner in a lot of projects, including Rotary Republic Park. We've worked with them since 2014 on this agreement where they're investing $50,000 into that park within ten years. Some of the improvements that have been done include funding used for the picnic shelter that we've done, new entrance signs throughout the facility, as well as water installed out to diamonds seven and eight which is going to be a huge benefit for our hardball users. We're looking at the possibility of batting cages for next year and repairing some fences. So, those funds will go a long way and also allow us to leverage additional grants or sponsorships that we might not be able to get."