10-year Parks and Recreation Master Plan in the works

Work continues on developing the Prince Edward County Parks and Recreation Master Plan.

Jon Hack of Sierra Planning & Management updated council at Thursday’s Committee of the Whole meeting.

Hack told council the 10-year plan, which will cover four areas, is being formed with residents in mind, however, it should also satisfy tourists.

“We’re looking at everything from service delivery through to all of the indoor facilities that are recreation-focused as well as some which obviously have a cultural focus as well … you know, the museum properties, the Mount Tabor Playhouse and so forth. All of the active outdoor fields as well as all of the passive networks of parks, open spaces and trails.”

Planning will also be done with the municipality’s growth in mind.

Hack told council initial public consultations and data gathering have been done and development of the detailed plan can begin.

“Our challenge will actually be to make sure the recommendations are clearly identified in the sections that we develop. And then on services, we’ll get into organization in terms of cost recovery and if we think there are things that we need to change.”

In a public survey, 63% of respondents said yes to additional indoor recreation facilities while 67% want more outdoor recreation facilities.

He also noted 82% of respondents said they believe the County has a role to play in directly delivering recreation programs to its residents.

Like many rural municipalities, the County mostly works with other groups to provide programming in its facilities.

“Expect our plan to come back with recommendations about how you would resource and what you would do to start that process of doing more direct programming.”

There will be more input from staff and the public before the plan is developed and finalized for council to approve.

See the report to council here.