STRATFORD — A planned community campus in Stratford is one step closer to reality after the town officially purchased about $2.4 million worth of land.
The 170-acre property is located between the Bunbury Road and Stratford Business Park, according to a Nov. 26 media release. The purchase had been announced during Stratford council's November meeting at the town centre a few weeks prior.
The Stratford Community Campus will one day house a new high school, as well as sports fields, multi-use courts, trails, a community wellness centre, and possibly a junior high school down the road. Some of the land will be sold to the province for the high school, and some to the business park for an expansion.
There are still more steps to complete the transaction, such as rezoning the land, applying to bring a portion of it inside town boundaries, and conducting an environmental assessment.
"We're just getting started, really," CAO Rob Hughes said during the meeting. "(But) that's a great hurdle to pass."
Mayor Steve Ogden commended Hughes and all involved in getting the project to this point, acknowledging that at times it was a rocky road.
"It's a great step. A great accomplishment," he said.
The land purchase itself will not impact taxes, and residents will have an opportunity to provide feedback via online consultation.
