New parkettes, a dog park, sports pads and an outdoor rink are all on the table for Newmarket in the next five years, but funding remains a challenge.
The municipality is formalizing a 10-year parks and recreation capital plan that will lay out all the recreational developments in the next decade. While high-profile projects like Mulock Park, a new tennis club and a pickleball facility are ongoing, the plan highlights other future projects, such as new trails, three new parkettes and sports pads at Proctor Park and Environmental Park. Staff presented a tentative plan to council June 17.
The total cost to fund every part of the plan is $127 million, but only $101 million has been allotted for the plan for now. But Newmarket Mayor John Taylor said upper government funding should hopefully address that in later years.
“This is the most ambitious parks, rec and trail plan in the history of the town,” Newmarket Mayor John Taylor said, adding that it is not a shock that it cannot be fully funded yet. “Without full funding, to not plan would also not be right.”
The plan also features other projects beyond five years, including six new parks related to development, such as Shining Hill, Sundial Park, Forest Green Park, Prospect/Charles Park, and parks for developments at Lundy’s Lane and the Redwood development. Haskett Park is set to get renewal within the next five to 10 years.
Beyond those 10 years, the plan also makes mention projects like an addition to the Ray Twinney Recreation Complex and other community centre enhancements.
The plan will now go out for consultation among the key stakeholders before getting finalized early next year.
“The objective is to really provide a level of clarity,” CAO Ian McDougall said. “We’re very optimistic this is going to be an exciting step forward.”
The plan faces funding challenges with the loss of development charges brought about by Bill 23, staff said. With a $10-million contingency factored into addressing emerging priorities, the shortfall is about $26 million over the decade.
Much of the budget is also frontloaded, with $111 million expected to be spent in the next five years as massive projects like Mulock Park are under construction. But staff hope that the province steps up with funding as promised, as well as through development charges.
Councillor Christina Bisanz asked about an outdoor rink for the Ray Twinney Recreation Complex and said residents are eager for it. The town undertook public consultation in 2022, but there have been no public-facing updates since.
Development and infrastructure commissioner Peter Noehammer said it is a project on hold for consideration of other options, but one the town is still maintaining.
“We still want to keep it on as an active project,” Noehammer said, adding that a further update should come later this year.
The plan does not include other capital projects in those 10 years, such as roads.
Other projects planned include trail development and connections, including a trail development on Cane Parkway and a connection between Bayview Avenue and Stonehaven.
Taylor said it would be important to advocate to the province to address issues like funding and ensuring developers still have to provide good land for parkland dedication in their new developments.
“If there’s anything that’s at the core of great communities, that people in our communities value, it’s parks and park spaces and amenities.”
