City Council Receives Final Draft of Recreation Master Plan
Fredericton (February 2, 2009) – At tonight’s Council-in-Committee meeting, Fredericton City Council received the final draft of the new City of Fredericton Recreation Master Plan. The document, which provides a roadmap for the provision of recreation programs, services and facilities for the next decade and beyond, will now proceed to the regular Council meeting of February 9 for formal adoption.
The Recreation Master Plan establishes the overall framework for future decisions, resource allocation, and community services that support the health, wellness and vibrancy of the City of Fredericton.
The Plan, prepared by dmA Planning & Management Services, with The Terrain Group and BDA Ltd, was completed after a year-long process involving extensive consultation with the public, key stakeholder groups and City staff.
“I’m very pleased with the quality of this Recreation Master Plan, which will serve as a guide for future decision-making on the kinds of indoor and outdoor programming and facilities that will be developed here in the coming years,” said Councillor David Kelly, Chair of the City’s Community Services Committee. “It is a comprehensive document that ultimately will allow residents of the greater Fredericton region to enjoy more active, healthier lifestyles.”
The Master Plan recommends the City put its focus and resources on community-level programming and infrastructure development in the coming years. It also recommends the City focus on working with its partners in the community to leverage even better recreational programming, projects and facilities.
“We will continue to work with the community on enhancing accessibility for persons with disabilities and to provide services and programming for all age groups,” said Coun. Kelly. “We will reach out to youth as well as the older adult population and continue to incorporate active healthy living strategies in all of our recreation initiatives.”
The Master Plan calls on the City to provide additional low-to-no-cost unstructured recreational opportunities and to ensure cost is not a barrier to participation.
The report also recommends that future development include strategically located indoor and outdoor Sports Hubs that respond to large numbers of participants, in addition to Community Level Recreation Hubs that are multi-generational, multi-activity areas that support recreational and social opportunities. In addition, the plan also addresses Neighbourhood Level outdoor recreation facilities and city-wide open natural areas and green spaces.
The Master Plan provides recommended service levels for indoor as well as outdoor facilities to be used as a guide for future facility development. It calls on the City to assess the opportunity and level of community support to build a centrally-located, multi-purpose, multi-generational recreation hub in the future. In addition, the plan also identifies the need for a second indoor aquatic facility, noting that discussion should be initiated with agencies and institutions within the City regarding opportunities to collaborate and partner, and that a full feasibility study would be required prior to initiating any development.
The report also recommends the Recreation Master Plan be immediately incorporated into the City’s Municipal Plan and used to guide current and future parkland assessment and accumulation.
-30-
Media Contact: Michelle Horncastle, Recreation Manager, Community Services, 506-460-2236.
