The RM of Stanley has signed a recreation services agreement with the cities of Winkler and Morden.

The five-year deal is the first of its kind for the three municipalities and represents a broader approach to recreation.

Reeve Morris Olafson says it's a recognition that their local ratepayers use the heavy cost recreation facilities located in both Morden and Winkler.

"We've got between 9,000 to 10,000 people in the RM and they have to go somewhere for recreation. So, this makes the playing field a little more even for all the ratepayers. Yes, it's an extra cost for the RM but I think it's well-justified at this point."

Under the agreement, Stanley will contribute $75,000 in 2021 to the city of Winkler, increasing each year up to $175,000 in 2025. The RM will pay the city of Morden $37,000 in 2021, increasing each year up to $87,000 in 2025. The amounts differ based on Stanley's population distribution.

All three municipalities offer recreational opportunities such as skating, swimming, hiking and biking trails and other play spaces, however, the agreement recognizes that both Winkler and Morden own and operate heavy cost facilities like the arenas, a swimming pool and other large recreation facilities.

The agreement marks a huge accomplishment for all three communities as this issue has been discussed and debated for well over a decade.

"It just took a while to figure out what would be the right number, what would be the right configuration," says Olafson. "We felt that it would be a good idea to help them out a little bit in that regard because we're not in a position to build arenas and other big things that are centralized."

According to a joint news release issued by all three communities, the agreement will ensure equal access and user fees for both City and RM residents and will remove challenges and frustrations in administering a 2-tier system of City/RM registrations and fees. The deal also spells out that staff in both cities will support recreational programming within the RM of Stanley.