A carving stands guard at the new nature playground built in partnership between the Kiwanis Club of Medicine Hat, several other organizations and the parks department, that is set to open in Central Park once watering of new sod is complete this month. Public consultations on a parks masterplan are open now. - News photo Collin Gallant
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A public consultation process for the future of parks development set for this summer moved to targeted meetings with broad community groups this week.
The city department launched the review in the early winter, generally proposing that clustered development in regional parks would have greater effect than reinvestment in smaller community greenspaces.
Broad consultation for members of the general public is promised to take place over July and August, with a report due in the fall, while a separate study done by administrators will focus on facilities planning and costs.
“I really encourage Hatters to get engaged on this,” said Coun. Jim Turner, the vice-chair of the public services committee, at the July 7 council meeting when an update was given.
“We have some major decisions we have to make over the next few years, especially on some facilities that are aging. Some are 40 years old, do we replace them, do we fix them.”
“The more information that we can get from citizens, it certainly helps us make our decisions.”
The department is studying costs at all facilities, but focused on reducing costs and the capital cost of maintaining. Three older facilities remain closed following public health shutdowns in 2020, including the Moose Recreation Centre and Crestwood Recreation Centre, due to low demand during the pandemic.
A review will be aligned with the city’s recently adopted municipal development plan, which promotes providing services and planning based on a regional level rather than community-by-community, said Parks director James Will.
“Multi-use sites, there are opportunities for us to look at combining sites, whether we run them or someone else runs them, there are a lot of outcomes that we can look at,” said Will. “Our goal is to put before council what we’ve heard and the best sequence to make it happen.”
The plan will go to council this fall, but may not be acted on until after the next election in October, said Coun. Phil Turnbull.
“The city has expanded substantially from when many of our facilities were built,” said Turnbull. “How are we going to address those needs as we grow? … At the end of the day, council will have to make that decision for the long-term future of our city.”
