The township has hired Stempski Kelly and Associates Inc., (SKA) of Fergus at $15,000 to lead a recreation master study.
It will develop a template for he township’s leisure service delivery.
“We recognize our relatively small permanent population deserves affordable, functional, appropriate and desirable recreation facilities,” said Mapleton’s public works director Larry Lynch. “Likewise, we are aware that leisure service is not just about taking your children to the local rink, soccer pitch or ball park. We are hoping the master plan will deal with the issues of an aging population, our physically challenged and of course the balance between budget and providing parks and recreation services and programs.”
SKA has done similar work in Guelph-Eramosa, Centre Wellington, Huron-Kinloss and North Perth.
“We appreciate the need for the Township of Mapleton to engage in a Strategic Master Plan to anticipate, improve and enhance leisure service for its residents and guests for the short-, mid- and long-term horizons,” said Sean Kelly, project leader with SKA.
“This is a pursuit that progressive rural communities recognize as necessary to remain desirable, competitive and both physically and economically healthy.”
SKA has already taken advantage of the recent good weather to tour Mapleton’s parks and recreation facilities, building a photographic inventory of those amenities.
Kelly plans to attend the next parks, recreation and culture committee meeting on Nov. 14, to introduce the project work plan developed with committee chairman Kelly Culp and Lynch earlier this month.
A “shared community session” is also planned – for community service clubs, Sports and recreation representatives and public officials – on Nov. 29 at the Drayton Festival Theatre at 7pm.
“Through a comprehensive public consultation we believe we can offer the township a tremendous tool in assisting its leadership, residents and the general public in determining recreation and park services/programs/facilities for all communities in Mapleton,” said Kelly.
The draft master plan is scheduled to be delivered to council in late January, and the final report by the end of February.
