Resident feedback sought for 10-year Parks and Recreation strategy

Town beginning planning process for future 

By Zachary Roman

Residents with an interest in the future of Parks and Recreation in Caledon are being asked to offer their insight to the Town.

On March 8, the Town of Caledon announced it's looking for feedback from residents to help create a Parks and Recreation strategy that will be the Town's guide for parks, recreation, facilities, events and support services for the next 10 years.

Jessica Stovin, Caledon's Manager of Community Recreation, said the strategy will ensure that the Town is offering what Caledon residents desire most.

“A vital part of creating this strategy will be the feedback provided by residents and we strongly encourage our community to get involved and have their say in the future of parks and recreation,” said Stovin in a news release.

In an interview with the Citizen, Stovin explained the 10-year Parks and Recreation strategy will be the follow-up to the Town's 2010 Parks and Recreation master plan. There was an update to the 2010 plan in 2015, when the “Imagine, Plan, Play” visioning report was made. The Town's latest strategy, when complete, will guide parks and recreation facilities and programs in Caledon for the years to come.

Throughout the month of March, the Town will host drop-in open houses about the strategy in each of Caledon's six wards that residents can attend. 

In Ward 1, the open house will be at Caledon Village Place from 5 to 8 p.m. on March 20. In Ward 2, the open house will be at Southfields Village Community Centre from 5 to 8 p.m. on March 22. In Ward 3, the open house will be at the Caledon East Community Complex from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on March 25.

Ward 4's open house will be at the Palgrave Community room at Caledon Equestrian Park from 5 to 8 p.m. on March 24. In Ward 5, the open house will be at the Albion Bolton Community Centre from 5 to 8 p.m. on March 27. Finally, in Ward 6, the open house will be at the Caledon Centre for Recreation and Wellness from 5 to 8 p.m. on March 29.

For those who are unable to make it to one of the open houses, feedback on the strategy is able to be provided online at HaveYourSayCaledon.ca/Parks-Recreation-Strategy.

Stovin said Town staff are seeing some early trends come in with regards to what residents are looking for in Caledon's Parks and Recreation facilities. 

“A lot of outdoor amenities… outdoor skating loops, those types of things are becoming quite popular,” said Stovin. “Part of the strategy consultation is understanding what it is that Caledon as a whole, and what Caledon's various neighbourhoods, want.”

After completing community consultation on the strategy, Town staff plan to bring forward a report this July using all the feedback they've received to present a preliminary strategy. The community will then have a chance to offer feedback on this report before it goes to Council later in the year.