Burlington Council Receives Update on City's Live and Play Plan

At our Dec. 12 meeting, Burlington City Council received a staff report detailing background information and giving an update on our City's Live and Play Plan.The Live and Play Plan will provide the City with direction on parks, recreation and culture facilities over the next 10 years, with a longer-term outlook over a 20-30 year horizon. The Plan will explore:

• Indoor recreation facilities such as arenas, pools and gymnasiums;
• Cultural facilities such as music centres and student theatres; and
• Outdoor recreation facilities such as sports fields, playgrounds and splash pads.

From now to March 2024, staff will draft the Live and Play Plan. From April-June 2024, staff with then test and finalize the plan to present to Council. No recommendations have been developed yet.Next Steps:

• Indoor and outdoor facility needs assessments
• Implementation strategy (short, medium, long-term)
• Draft Live and Play Plan
• Public Feedback Period
• Finalize Live and Play Plan

See the approved full motion and My Take below, as well as the staff report, related appendices, staff presentation and additional findings so far, further down this post.APPROVED MOTION:

• Receive and file recreation, community and culture department report RCC-23-23 Live and Play Plan Background Information and Update.

MY TAKE:A part of this exercise will be to analyze the gaps in service we have now and what we can expect in the future. All those who are unaccommodated or those we had to turn away -- we need to know of these occurrences so we can ensure there is future capacity. We need to have a seven-generations-out view of this and have a really good sense of the gapping in needs. Thankfully, we've seen builders realizing the public realm adds value to their land and some want it just as much as we do. We've seen the evidence that we cannot fund all of this on the tax base, so we need to look at how to bring in private sector partners and dollars. Not one sector can do it alone. We've asked staff to give us the plan we need and Council will figure out how to make it work.

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To read the staff report and related supporting documents, please click/tap the links below:

• Staff report: RCC-23-23 Live and Play Plan Background Information and Update.pdf
• Appendix: RCC-23-23 Appendix A Live and Play Plan Background and Consultation Report Nov 2023.pdf
• Staff presentation: RCC-23-23 Live and Play Plan Background Information and Update Staff Presentation.pdf

BACKGROUND:In December 2009, Council approved the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Assets Master Plan (PRCAMP), which provided a 20-year strategic framework for the development and enhancement of parks, recreation and cultural facilities and services in the City of Burlington. The Plan has been used to guide city capital budgets, development charge studies, and the enhancement of our services to meet the needs of our growing and changing community. Although the 2009 PRCAMP has guided the City well over the years, with the changing landscape of the city it is time to re-evaluate community needs and priorities for parks, recreation and cultural services for the next 20-30 years.The biggest change is the projected growth of the city through the intensification policies of the City and Regional Official Plans. Under these plans, Burlington will grow to over 260,000 people by 2051 which will significantly impact parks, recreation, and cultural services.An RFP to undertake the updating of the PRCAMP was awarded to Monteith Brown Planning Consultants in early 2023. After discussion with City staff and Monteith Brown the name of the PRCAMP update was changed to the Live and Play Plan for ease of understanding, inclusivity, and better resonation with the public.Prior to retaining Monteith Brown, O2 Planning and Design conducted some initial background research to assist with the Live and Play Plan. O2 was also the firm who completed the Parks Provisioning Master Plan (PPMP) that along with the Live and Play Plan will shape the future of parks, recreation, and cultural services in Burlington.The background report completed by Monteith Brown will be the foundation for the Live and Play Plan and builds upon the information collected from O2 and City staff.Specifically, the background report addresses areas such as trends, demographics, an inventory review, and facility prioritization criteria.Burlington's Profile:

• Burlington’s current population is 186,948 people and it's projected to grow to 240,050 (+53,102 residents) by 2041 and 265,160 (+78,212 residents) by 2051. The majority of growth is expected to take place through intensification, including around Burlington GO, Aldershot GO and Appleby GO stations.
• Our city is also an aging and diversifying community. The median income in 2020 was $110,000, with 6% of Burlington residents experiencing low-income.

Public Engagement:

• Three public input sessions were held to provide an opportunity for residents to learn about the Plan and provide their input.
• In-person sessions were held at Food for Feedback and the Appleby Line Street Festival and an online input session was also held.
• A community survey was undertaken to collect input on participation preferences and priorities -- 402 surveys were received, representing over 1,300 people across all age groups. The survey was available online and in-print.

Summary of Consultation Themes:

• Burlington’s parks, recreation and culture facilities are highly valued by the community. Specific mentions were made to the waterfront and waterfront parks, trails, major parks (e.g., Central Park), and the range of indoor facilities that appeal to a variety of residents.
• Emphasis should be placed on maximizing the use of existing parks and facilities, which may require consideration for park and facility renewal.
• There is a desire for enhanced park amenities including, but not limited to, washrooms, trails, lighting, shade, seating, and water stations.
• Requests were made for new or more facilities including, but not limited to cricket pitches, pickleball courts, ball hockey courts, rugby fields, ice pads, expanded seniors’ centre, and performing arts space.
• There is a demand for parks and recreation facilities for casual and unstructured activities such as open greenspaces, special events space, playgrounds, and outdoor skating.
• There needs to be a balance between addressing existing infrastructure needs to renew aging assets, while accommodate growth-related needs.
• The parks, recreation and culture facility needs of newcomers, persons with disabilities, and an aging and diversifying community should be considered to ensure that facilities, programs, and services are inclusive for all.