Recreation and Parks Strategic Action Plan

On September 29, 2020, a focus group (including the general public) was invited to discuss four topic areas:

• What will fitness programs and facilities in Halton Hills look like?

• How can we better support community volunteers?

• How else can we engage or provide programming (learning from our COVID-19 experience)?

• How is support for programs and facilities determined – a closer look at the Town’s service continuum

This meeting was hosted by project consultants Monteith Brown, and results from this open house are included in the Final Draft Strategic Action Plan presented to Council in November, 2020.

In addition, the Town's Let's Talk platform was used to conduct a discussion forum on the Draft Strategic Action Plan. Over 50 comments were received and are part of the record of public engagement. 

While an in-person open house was scheduled for March 23, this event was cancelled due to restrictions surrounding COVID-19. Instead, an online survey was launched on March 26. This survey included the Top 10 Potential Directions and asked a series of questions based on these priorities. This survey concluded on April 24, 2020. Results are published in the Draft Strategic Action Plan.

A memo was presented to Members of Council on the status of the Recreation and Parks Strategic Action Plan project timeline and community engagement process. At this time a PowerPoint presentation was presented to council as part of the update. At this time, the Top 10 Potential Directions were shared with council and subsequently as part of an online engagement on the Town's Let's Talk platform.

A community open house and launch event was held on Tuesday, September 24, 2019 at the Gellert Community Centre. Participants joined either a formal discussion session or casual drop-in to identify issues facing the Town and potential strategies for consideration. Have a look at the presentation boards on display from this meeting.

A memo was presented to Members of Council on the status of the Recreation and Parks Strategic Action Plan project timeline and community engagement process. At this time a PowerPoint presentation was presented to council as part of the update.

The Recreation and Parks rates and fees strategy was completed in February, 2020. Part of the overall strategic action plan, the goal of the fee strategy is to review the existing rates and fees structure and provide a new framework to rationalize rates, subsidy/cost recovery levels, and future trends based on projected demographics.

Project objectives

• ​To determine how the rates and fees should respond to changing demographics, employment forecasts and income levels

• To define a fair and transparent recovery rate for the various programs and services provided in Recreation and Parks​

• To ensure that required service delivery is sustainable without significant burden on the tax base

• To define a rate structure that aligns with those services that most benefit the community and the public's ability to pay (public : private services and benefits)

The following ten potential directions have been identified being a priority for the Recreation and Parks Department:

1. Provide basic recreation opportunities for all

2. Minimizing barriers to participation

3. Connect residents with nature experiences

4. Support climate change initiatives

5. Respond to evolving recreation interests

6. Support the use of new and existing facilities

7. Review effectiveness of program and facility resources

8. Improve operations and customer experiences

9. Increase volunteers

10. Prepare a Community Development Action Plan

These potential directions align with the following five key goals of the Framework for Recreation in Canada: 

1. Active living

2. Access and inclusion

3. Connecting people to nature

4. Supportive environments

5. Building capacity