HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-10-030 - Parks Master Plan UpdateREPORT
REPORT TO:
Community Services Committee
DATE OF MEETING:
May 10, 2010
SUBMITTED BY:
Jim Witmer, Director of Operations
PREPARED BY:
Dan Ritz, Supervisor of Design & Development
WARD(S) INVOLVED:
All
DATE OF REPORT: April 27, 2010
REPORT NO.:
CSD-10-030
SUBJECT:
PARKS MASTER PLAN UPDATE
RECOMMENDATION:
That the Draft Parks Master Plan dated April 2010 be received for information and
discussion; and further,
That subject to the completion of the public review and comment period, the Final Parks
Master Plan be brought back to Council on June 28, 2010 for final approval.
BACKGROUND:
In 2008, Council awarded E08-058, Consulting Services – Parks Master Plan to GSP Group Inc.
to undertake a comprehensive review of various park policies, operational standards,
development initiatives, implementation & delivery strategies and guidelines that will support
park development and operations. (Council approval October 27, 2008)
On June 1, 2009, staff provided a Parks Master Plan Update to Community Services Committee
(report CSD-09-037). At that time, the Situational Analysis Report and public and stakeholder
consultation was completed. Five central themes emerged as result of the input and background
study as follows:
1. Natural Areas
2. Community Trails
3. Active Parkland
4. Neighbourhood Parks
5. Community Engagement
On October 26, 2009, staff provided a second update and presentation on the status of the
Parks Master Plan to Community Services Committee (report CSD-09-058). During this period,
the development of the Draft Parks Master Plan was well underway. The original 5 themes were
Grand River Corridor
expanded upon and one additional theme, namely , was added through
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Council input. Staff advised committee that the next steps would include completion of the draft
Parks Master Plan and development of the Implementation Strategy.
REPORT:
The draft Park Master Plan is complete and the project team is now soliciting comment from the
staff technical committee, interested user groups and public participants. The Master Plan has
been organized into four sections as follows:
– identifies the motivation and context for the Park Master Plan and the process
1. Introduction
involved in its creation.
2. Strategic Framework – this section includes three components to articulate the overall
strategic direction of the Plan:
A Vision and Mission statement to capture the overall spirit and intent, future perspective
and targeted outcomes for the City’s parks system;
A connected series of Principles and Goals intended to guide decision making, directions
and strategies within the Master Plan, and to establish the overall objectives for the parks
system; and,
A Parkland Classification System providing a categorization of park system resources into
an organized framework as a guide for planning the distribution and servicing of existing
and future parkland.
3. Strategic Themes – specific initiatives and strategies are organized within the following six
themes that emerged as community priorities through the research and consultation:
Conserving and Restoring City Natural Areas;
Strengthening and Expanding the Community Trails Network;
Completing the Vision for the Grand River Corridor;
and Fostering Growth in Outdoor Sports;
Enhancing Active Parkland
Building and Renewing our Neighbourhood Parks;
Engaging and Activating the Community.
– this section includes three components to direct the
4. Implementation Strategy
implementation of the Master Plan, including:
Policies and procedures to define the City’s role, the role of partnerships and the
community, and to guide parkland acquisition, design, development, operations, renewal,
programming and use.
A prioritized action plan identifying areas of further study as well as specific park
investments with related timing and capital/operating financial implications.
Guidelines for performance measurement and related evaluation tools for monitoring the
achievement of the desired outcomes identified in the Master Plan.
Staff is requesting that Community Services Committee receive the draft Parks Master Plan,
followed by a public input period. Public and additional technical committee comments will be
incorporated into the final Parks Master Plan which will be brought back to Council on June 28,
2010 with the following recommendations:
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That the Parks Master Plan dated June 2010 be approved, and;
That the implementation of the Parks Master Plan strategies and actions be referred to the
corporate business planning and the annual capital and operating budget processes for
consideration.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
Financial implications as a result of the Parks Master Plan Implementation Strategy will be
brought forward through the ten-year Capital Budget Forecast and Annual Operating Budget.
COMMUNICATIONS:
A public review and comment period will occur throughout May 2010 in order to solicit comment
from the interested public participants and user groups on the Draft Parks Master Plan.
CONCLUSION:
The completed Parks Master Plan represents a critical step in the renewed effort to ensuring
that Kitchener’s park system continues to meet resident needs, as well as contributes to the
overall quality of life, culture, heritage and urban character.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY:
Pauline Houston, General Manager, Community Services
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