Centre Wellington council, meeting in committee of the whole, has approved in principle a master plan for Victoria Park in Elora and four smaller parks in Fergus.
Andy Goldie said the reason for the master plans is so council can see how it can proceed to accomplish its goals for park development.
Amanda Gebhardt, a consultant with MMM Group, and Erin Eldridge, of Ecoplans, presented the report on Monday afternoon.
Gebhardt said it was designed to be done over ten years, with short, medium and long term goals for each, and councils of the future would consider proposed spending at their annual budget sessions.
Victoria Park in Elora has a spectacular view of the gorge, many trails through it, and almost no other amenities.
Gebhardt said the four Fergus parks, Pattison, Millburn, Milligan and Tait have been there for years and had almost nothing done to them. That means a generation “has lost the use of them.”
She said among the plans for Victoria Park are protection of trees, arched entranceways, trail enhancement, signs, a shrub border to protect neighbours, a horse shelter for Mennonite users and to protect the trees and enhanced fencing along the gorge.
The total cost over a ten year period would be $997,000.
The four Fergus parks were provided by developers when they built subdivisions, then they sat there.
Eldridge said the plan for Pattison is traditional playground equipment and a seating area, a landscaping barrier around the road and for a park backdrop and more play areas.
The total park cost is estimated at $75,350.
Milligan Park would receive large playground pieces with an Off to the Races theme, bleacher style benches and a sand box pit stop, a pathway circuit racetrack, entry archways with a thematic or tribute to partners and naturalized area with shade tree planting.
The cost would be $92,860.
Tait Park is located near the high school, and Eldridge said it would have a large seating area with boulder seating that is more resistant to vandalism than traditional seats. There would be a swing set for children of all ages and a buffer planting along the residential borders.
In all cases, Eldridge said partnerships would be sought for the parks, to keep costs low, and she said she hopes that teens would help build an arbour in Tait Park, where the total estimated cost is $47,841.
Millburn is the largest of the four parks being considered in Fergus. Eldridge said a sun shelter, small playground and splash pad are being proposed there. There would be an open passive area, tree plantings and a naturalized landscape.
She noted a winter ice rink proposal received mixed reviews and should be reconsidered. As well, privacy screening was not desired along Scott Street.
The cost for Millburn Park is estimated at $323,000, bringing the total for the four parks to $504,120.
Goldie said if council accepted the plan, it could consider each phase of spending annually.
Councillor Fred Morris liked the proposal. He said this is his sixth year on council, and people in his ward have been calling him about the undeveloped parks since his first year.
He said he is “grateful” that council is considering some work there.
Goldie said the idea is to give each area something as the council proceeds, and he expects a lot can be done with volunteers and in-kind partnerships.
But councillor Bob Foster is concerned about the $1.5-million cost, and asked if there are grants to aid council’s budgeting.
Goldie said there are no particular government programs, but the Parks and Recreation Department will be looking for donations and partnership.
“At the end of the day, we need these parks,” he said.
Mayor Joanne Ross-Zuj said with the plan, the parks become “shovel ready” in case there are sudden federal and provincial grants, or offers from private sources. She also noted the importance of having a plan in place for them.
“We now have five beautiful projects sitting there, cost ready,” she said, adding that at public meetings for the parks, people from every age group participated.
Goldie said Victoria Park is a huge investment, but the benefits from tourism will outweigh that once it is done.
He added parks are needed because kids six and seven years old are now fighting obesity, and parks get them out playing instead of sitting at home.
“If we don’t correct that, we’re going to have more than $1.5-million in health costs,” he said.
Council accepted the plan, with Foster opposed, and councillor Walt Visser absent.
During question period, Foster argued the parks plan should have been done in house, something council decided months ago, and he added he is not sure spending $1.5-million on those parks is the right thing to do.
Goldie said there are other parks in the township that are also blank slates, and the township has changed its practices about developers’ donation of parkland. Now, the developers are helping to plan the parks.
But, he said, “These are catch-up plans. The rest come through development charges.”
Ross-Zuj said there are several empty parks in Fergus, some others in Belwood and, “We’re just making a start.”
Goldie said the reason the township adopted a recreation master plan is to ensure such things as parks are developed. He noted two soccer fields will be coming in 2011 “on limited resources.”
