Refreshing ideas for local recreation
A stir was caused last week by a social media post suggesting that the Chesterville Arena is slated for closure, but this turned out to be a baseless rumour
by Brandon Mayer
A meeting took place on March 3 in the North Dundas council chambers aimed at providing information to members of the public regarding the Township’s recreation plan. As the strategic plan is not yet ratified, the information session also served as an opportunity for members of the public to voice their ideas and ask questions.
A published document that explores ideas and feedback regarding the Recreation Master Plan features many refreshing ideas that could potentially add new life to the community. A survey of residents found that many locals want new programs in North Dundas, such as publicly subsidized art and dance programs, general children’s programs, indoor swimming, and opportunities for adult fitness. These would be in addition to existing recreation provided by the parks, arenas, outdoor pools, and community halls.
Despite a social media post that alarmed some residents by suggesting that three facilities in Chesterville are slated for closure, a member of council confirmed for the Times that such a plan “has been alluded to but will not happen” (see this week’s editorial for a more detailed analysis of the social media post). By contrast, the document posted through the Township’s “Let’s Connect” website identifies strong usage of both arenas, and recommends keeping them open and investing in needed maintenance. The report specifically states that “both arenas are important to the local community and therefore, have merit to be maintained”. Other facilities such as Winchester’s Old Town Hall are also identified as being well used.
Specifically in Chesterville, proposed recreational upgrades include developing a concept plan for the Chesterville Park to be a primary outdoor recreation hub, with improved pedestrian pathways between the park, river access points, and the village’s “cultural hub”.
Proposed future upgrades to the existing outdoor pools could turn them into “aquatic destinations” for families, with shaded canopy areas for relaxation in between swims, and separate pool sections for athletic lane swimming and leisure swimming. Many residents commenting on the Let’s Connect website suggested an indoor pool for improved winter recreation, though this type of facility is very expensive and uncommon in a Township as small as North Dundas.
The report refers to the planned design of the new Hallville park as the future standard for parks in the Township. The park will be the first in North Dundas to include a splash pad, and will have a multitude of amenities in addition to on site washrooms. This suggests that future park planning could see other parks in the municipality upgraded with these features as well, as funding becomes available.
The end of the report identifies other possible upgrades and amenities to Township recreational facilities, including pump tracks for scooters and skateboards, water bottle filling stations, natural playground equipment, table games, fitness stations, and group picnic areas. These are only possibilities, and the decision of where to allocate funds would include a public consultation component. Residents who are accustomed to hearing about local budget constraints may be pleasantly refreshed by the proposal of new recreational amenities in North Dundas.
Not everyone has been pleased with the level of transparency and simplicity offered by the planning process, however. Many residents did not feel that the public information session was adequately advertised ahead of time. Others feel that the purpose of the meeting was unclear.
Elaine Smith attended the meeting. “I was expecting that there would be a presentation, with someone standing up front presenting, soliciting questions or comments. Instead there were about 20 easels spread out in a circle around the room, with a poster on each one related to recreation. There was a lot of detail on each poster,” Elaine reported. “I have a bad back, so after 30 minutes of simply glancing at the posters and chatting with a few people that I knew, I left, with my back on fire, feeling like this was a waste of my time. There was no way that I could absorb the information on the posters.”
Elaine felt that the climate of the meeting was civil and positive, but that the information sharing could have been more accessible.
The finalized plan will be presented to council on April 9. To view the full recreation presentation and leave a comment, visit https://letsconnect.northdundas.com/media/file/north-dundas-recreation-master-plan or get in touch with the Township office at 613-774-2105.