Money is pouring in to special accounts held by Ottawa city councillors for parks and recreation, thanks to a charge called "Cash in lieu of parkland."
It's the fee developers pay if they can't set aside the mandated parkland for their new development.
Most of the money is to be spend in the wards where the developments are built.
The total across the city is almost $15-million - two councillors have ward balances of over $1-million, while one, Catherine McKenney, has almost $2-million.
Capital Ward Councillor David Chernushenko, who has a balance of $1.25-million.
"Yes, considerably more money has come in," Chernushenko said.
"The reason (we) have all that money is that the population is growing, and the needs are there."
Chernushenko said he is deliberately allowing the cash to accumulate, and is consulting with local residents on where it's to be spent.
"I've got two communities that need to go from tiny community centres that are falling down, to something much better than that," Chernushenko said.
"We have been doing the advance planning, and I have been very transparently banking the money."
Chernushenko said it's one of the rare occasions where city councillors can actually spend money on projects beneficial to their ward.
He noted there are strict guidelines they have to follow, and added a wise councillor consults with residents on how the cash should be allocated.