The City of Fredericton has unveiled the final report of its Recreation and Leisure Master Plan (RLMP), a visionary document set to guide investment in facilities, programs, and services over the next 15 years. Developed over three years, the plan reflects the city’s commitment to fostering an active, inclusive, affordable and connected community.
"Fredericton is built on community and connection," said Councillor Ruth Breen, Chair of the City’s Livable Community Committee. "The Recreation and Leisure Master Plan provides a clear roadmap for fostering a vibrant, active, and inclusive city that continues to meet the needs of our growing population.”
Public engagement played a vital role in shaping the plan. Since the fall of 2023, public consultations, surveys, open houses, and focused stakeholder sessions have gathered valuable input from residents, user groups, sports organizations, inclusion advocates, and other key community stakeholders to inform the plan and its recommendations.
The RLMP is guided by the City’s vision for recreation and leisure and is organized around a series of six principles:
- Recreation for all: improving community access to City facilities, and making recreation more accessible, inclusive and affordable.
- Partnerships that Count: identifying a broad range of partnerships are needed for successful community recreation service delivery.
- Grow What You Have, Build What you Need: emphasize the importance of maintaining existing assets, while strategically investing in additional infrastructure to meet the needs of a growing and changing City.
- Re-Balancing Services: recognizing that increasing participation requires a renewed approach to service delivery.
- A Strong and Evolving Delivery Model: expanded focus on program delivery comprising both direct programming by the City of Fredericton and facilitating other providers to expand the range of programs.
- Recreation Value-Added: strategic investment that seeks to create quality-based experiences.
In alignment with the needs of a growing and diverse community, the RLMP calls for the development of various new outdoor facilities over its implementation period. This includes recommendations for investing in new recreational infrastructure, such as ball fields, a cricket field, and basketball courts, along with future additions like skateboard parks, splash and spray pads, playgrounds, and off-leash dog parks.
“The City has grown significantly over the past 15 years,” said David Seabrook, Director of Recreation, Tourism and Community Development. “The new Recreation and Leisure Master Plan will help make sure recreation and leisure services meet the needs of the community and provide more opportunities for everyone.”
The plan also emphasizes the need for more affordable and accessible amenities like neighbourhood parks and playgrounds, and passive recreational spaces.
“The Recreation and Leisure Master Plan reaffirms our commitment to affordable, accessible and innovative recreation, ensuring our facilities and programs continue to bring people together and enhance their quality of life. Together, we’re building a city that grows with our community," added Coun. Breen.
For more information on the Recreation and Leisure Master Plan, its recommendations and action items, and the public consultation process visit www.engagefredericton.com.
Each component of the plan will be presented to Fredericton City Council individually for approval, with investment priorities determined through the City’s annual budgeting process.
The City commissioned Sierra Planning and Management—a multidisciplinary planning firm—along with CBCL Limited and Novita Interpares to develop the Master Plan.