YORKTON - The City of Yorkton now has a Parks and Recreation Master Plan.
The thick document prepared by The Parks and Recreation Master Plan Steering Committee and RCS Strategies, was presented to and adopted by Yorkton Council at its regular meeting Monday, with only Councillor Darcy Zaharia opposed to the motion to adopt.
The Parks and Recreation Master Plan was approved during the 2022 and 2023 Capital Budget process.
“RC Strategies specializes in recreation and parks planning and policy development, and has consulted for a number of communities within Saskatchewan, including The Battlefords, Saskatoon, and Prince Albert to name a few,” explained Taylor Morrison, Gallagher Centre General Manager with the city.
Morrison said the plan dovetails with previous documents adopted by the city.
“The Master Plan project meets the Infrastructure priority identified in the 2020 Strategic Plan, which states that Yorkton will be “A community with a comprehensive, integrated and sustainable infrastructure plan and programs that meet current and future needs,” he said.
“This project speaks to the Community Development priority of the 2020 strategic Plan which includes the objective that the City will “Develop and maintain facilities that offer a diverse range of sports and recreational opportunities for youth to seniors including, spray parks, playgrounds, bike trails, walking paths and organized sports.” This project meets the strategic direction of Recreation and Community Services to ensure services are available that provide opportunities for youth and families to provide positive healthy lifestyle choices.”
In terms of background Morrison said there is certainly evidence supporting the importance of recreation.
“The Canadian Parks and Recreation Association states that, “Recreation is a fundamental human need in all ages and stages of life. It is the pursuit of physical, social, intellectual, creative, and spiritual experiences that enhance individual and community well-being.” The benefits of recreation cannot be overstated. It provides personal, social, economic, and environmental benefits, helps build strong families and communities, helps connect people to nature, and promotes active living,” he said.
“Recreation, sport, culture, and parks are valued and important municipal services. Residents that have access to quality opportunities are proven to be healthier, happier, and more connected to their community. These services spur on economic activity, provide healthier choices to anti-social behaviour, and are a source of community pride and spirit. It is for these reasons, and more, that the City of Yorkton invests in these services, and why residents have come to expect the quality and quantity of current facilities and services as part of their everyday lives.”
The importance is why the Master Plan was developed.
“To proactively manage these services, the City of Yorkton is developing a comprehensive Parks and Recreation Master Plan. The Master Plan will guide the development, delivery, and continuous improvement of parks, sport, culture, and recreation programs, services, and facilities,” said Morrison.
The Master Plan was developed to:
* Assess the current state of parks and recreation in the community.
* Guide future investment priorities and focus areas.
* Provide Council and staff with a point of reference.
* Ensure decision is based on sound rationale.
The plan was created after consultation which included receiving 372 responses through a coded access survey, 93 through an open survey, and community contributor meetings which attracted 36 participating groups.
Now that the Parks and Recreation Master Plan is adopted, any actions or recommendation that may have costs attached to them would be considered as part of future budget discussions.
