Planning for play: Newmarket’s recreation roadmap

NRU
March 23, 2016
By Leah Wong

With population growth and demographic changes expected over the next decade, the Town of Newmarket is developing a roadmap to meet the changing recreational needs of its residents.

On Monday committee of the whole approved the next phase of the town’s recreation playbook, which provides guidance on the anticipated facility needs of the growing community.

Newmarket is expected to add 9,000 residents over the next decade to its current population of about 86,000. As well, the town’s demographic profile is expected to change as baby boomers hit senior age. With a population that is both growing and aging, the town’s recreation services also need to change.

“This is one of the most important items we’ve taken on in this term of council,” Mayor Tony Van Bynen told committee.

He said Monday’s decision was a significant step towards meeting the town’s goals to improve recreation options for residents.

Regional councillor John Taylor told committee that he hears from residents on their wish for specific types of recreational amenities. Council already has identified enhanced recreational opportunities and community facilities as a strategic priority.

The second phase of the playbook outlines capital projects scheduled to start in 2016 or 2017, including the construction of two spray pads and two outdoor skate parks. The town also plans to purchase a shop building at the former Glenway Golf Course for use as a satellite maintenance building for the town’s parks staff.

These phase two projects add to several others previously approved by council and already under way. The already approved phase one projects include the development of a town-operated fitness centre, the construction of an artificial turf field in partnership with the school board and the conversion of two tennis courts into three courts for pickle ball, popular with seniors. The new pickle ball courts will provide additional recreational space for the town’s aging population.

Through the recreation playbook, the town identified the need to consider the service demands of the town’s older adults.

The town currently has a centralized facility for older adults, but will continue to offer additional programming at other facilities.

Older adults are just one of the groups identified in the playbook. Along with the two skate parks in the works for the younger population, the town is considering opportunities to expand its roster of accessible playgrounds.

Council has already approved the capital costs of all phase one projects and the majority of phase two projects, with much of the funding from development charges.

Even with DC revenue, Councillor Dave Kerwin noted it is important that the town consider the long-term operational costs of new facilities.

“We have to be very careful about what we’re doing so that we don’t put the town in an adverse position,” said Kerwin. He said he considers the recreational playbook a “work of art,” but wants to see the financial impacts of the projects.

Corporate services acting commissioner Mike Mayes told committee that any projects being funded through the replacement fund will have nominal, if any, impact on the town’s operating budget. However, those funded through development charges to address the town’s population growth will have financial consequences for future operating budgets. He said staff will need to build in future operating costs when evaluating the over-all impact of approving projects now on the books.

“One thing we’re committed to doing is a much better job at identifying operating costs and highlighting what the long term implications are from an operating perspective,” recreation and culture director Colin Service told committee.

Council still has a number of decisions to make about the location of future recreation projects identified in phase three of the implementation plan. Subject to budget approval, construction of phase three projects is expected to start in two to five years. Phase three projects include relocating some tennis courts from community centre lands, replacing a ball diamond, constructing outdoor basketball courts and
developing a full-size, artificial outdoor ice rink.

Councillor Jane Twinney says she wants to see alternative locations considered as part of the consultation for phase three projects so the town can assess its existing assets before deciding whether or not to acquire additional land.

“We’re proposing that [the proposed] phase three be shared as a starting point for our community consultation process,” said Service. “For phase three onward, anytime there are recommendations list the intention is to give the public an idea of possibility to start from. From there we can start to engage in a conversation on other possibilities.”