Pickleball, as well as cricket, tennis, bocce, basketball, skateparks, arenas, leash-free dog parks and community gardens, are among the recreation facilities recommended in the City of Burlington’s draft Live and Play Plan, now available for public review and feedback.
Pickleball, as well as cricket, tennis, bocce, basketball, skateparks, arenas, leash-free dog parks and community gardens, are among the recreation facilities recommended in the City of Burlington’s draft Live and Play Plan, now available for public review and feedback.
Two dedicated cricket fields, 13 public tennis courts, 33 dedicated outdoor pickleball courts, 11 multi-use basketball and ball hockey courts, seven skateparks, an outdoor bocce court, six leash-free dog parks, and seven new or enhanced community gardens are among a list of draft recommendations in the City of Burlington’s Live and Play Plan.
The long-term vision for the future of recreation across the city — which will replace Burlington’s current Parks, Recreation and Cultural Assets Master Plan — was released for community feedback on Thursday, April 25.
City of Burlington spokesperson Sharon Will said community development senior manager Denise Beard confirmed staff’s goal is for council to “adopt the conceptual Live and Play Plan in June.”
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Will said city staff will then conduct a “detailed review of the items in the plan to prioritize” projects based on asset life cycle, community need and cost.
“We plan to report back to Council in the fall of 2024 with this detailed work,” Will said.
She said a key driver in the plan is partnerships, and if someone wants to partner with the city by bringing funding to the table that could accelerate the timing of an item in the plan. There is some funding available for asset renewal in the city’s capital budget.
According to information on the city’s website, the plan will guide discussions over the next 20 to 30 years, covering indoor recreation facilities including arenas, pools, and gymnasiums, cultural facilities and outdoor facilities such as sports fields, playgrounds, splash pads, and more. The recommendations suggest specific locations to consider for a variety of new or enhanced facilities.
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Visit getinvolvedburlington.ca/liveplayplan to view the full list of recommendations and proposed implementation plans and provide feedback. The draft plan will be open for feedback until May 10. Resident input is expected to help staff understand community priorities.
Among the 27 draft recommendations, and proposed implementation strategies, is updating the Sherwood Forest Park Revitilization Plan to investigate redistributing existing uses to accommodate needs identified in the Live and Play Plan — including a dedicated cricket field, pickleball and basketball courts, a skatepark, splash pad, leash-free dog park and community gardens.
The park is located east of the Appleby GO station, at 5720 Fairview St., and the Live and Play Plan notes a need for recreation facilities in major transit station areas targeted for residential growth.
The Sherwood Forest Park revitilization could also include redevelopment of Sherwood Forest Community Centre with a full-size gymnasium, three or four multi-purpose rooms and space to accommodate community partners.
The plan recommends monitoring use of the new Skyway Arena, currently under construction, for participation levels to assess need and consider: building a twin pad arena as part of a multi-use community centre at Central Park — or a single pad arena with a covered outdoor rink; or acquiring a new site large enough for a twin pad arena, gymnasium, indoor walking track, multi-purpose spaces and potentially an indoor pool.
The plan recommends discussions with regional school boards to explore partnership opportunities for an indoor artificial turf field.
“A feasibility study should be undertaken to investigate the potential to construct a seasonal dome over an existing outdoor artificial turf field to facilitate year-round field sports, with Corpus Christi Secondary School being a candidate site,” the plan states.
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The plan recommends relocating activities from the current Burlington Music Centre and theatre building at Central Park to a future multi-use community centre in the same area with modernized spaces.
“This strategy would allow the two existing facilities to be repurposed for other users, including being reclaimed as green space or to meet other outdoor recreation facility uses,” the Live and Play Plan states.
is a reporter with Metroland, primarily covering Burlington. He previously covered the community of Dundas for 25 years. Reach him at ccampbell@torstar.ca.
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