Jorge Barrera
Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet (July 11/01) - If Rankin Inlet's recreation co-ordinator gets his way, the community will have two new basketball courts this summer and new playground equipment.

Johnny Tucktoo, recreation co-ordinator for Rankin Inlet, submitted a proposal to the economic development officer requesting around $5,000 for materials to build the courts and around $18,000 for playground equipment.

"It's out of my hands as of Friday," said Tucktoo last Thursday. "I've done the leg-work."

John Wallace, economic development officer with the hamlet, said the projects have merit but need a little more fine tuning.

"I still have to see the figures and the bottom line in writing," said Wallace last Thursday. "We have to evaluate it."

Once Wallace is satisfied with the proposal he will submit it to the Cultural Initiatives Projects (CIP) committee, which holds the strings of an $84,000 purse for community projects.

So far the hamlet has spent $35,000. Another $25,000 has been approved for upgrading Marble Island trails.

Tucktoo wants to build two new basketball courts and add to the only existing court.

The money he's asking for the basketball courts is specifically for materials like cement and a pair of basketball poles. He also added $300 for two soccer nets for a future soccer field project.

The $18,000 is for playground equipment. Labour and construction equipment will be donated in kind by the hamlet, he said.

It's up to the CIP committee to decide the fate of the two proposals and Tucktoo said he hopes both are approved.

"That's my wish list," he said. "If they want me to cut corners to spend less I will."

Tucktoo said the approval of these two projects will bounce the community ahead in terms of infrastructure.

"Next summer I can concentrate on expanding and using these facilities instead of trying to create facilities," he said.

"It can only snowball from there," said Tucktoo.