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Parks and Outdoor Facilities

This page includes a general overview of the Parks, Recreation, Culture and Libraries Master Plan, and highlights the Parks and Outdoor Facilities section.

Background

The Master Plan establishes priorities and policies guiding the delivery of facilities and services to the year 2021.  It builds ont he 1999 plan and expands to include Parks and Outdoor facilities, based on three key elements; public consultation, data analysis and technical expertise.

The data was collected and analysis through 2 public meetings, 4 presentations to Council and many focus groups of users during 2004 and 2005.  The Town Staff and Council use this document to guide current and future planning decisions.  Priorities that were established in the plan have been the focus, and while much has been accomplished, significant opportunities have presented themselves, as well as challenges. Some examples of the results of this process have been the Thornhill Centre Seniors Complex, the Improvements in the Markham Village Library, land acquisitions, the YMCA Partnership, the Markham Sports Council, Internet access included in Libraries and all the new programs in the Guide.

The plan requires major updating every five years and ongoing review from staff in the various areas as circumstances change.  Work will begin in 2008 for the next major update.

Key Elements of the Plan

Extensive consultation, research and analysis was undertaken, with public consultation a key element including:

• 88 Community Groups were surveyed representing 26,000 people.
• 394 random households were surveyed by telephone.
• There were youth Task Force and Older Adults feedback opportunities.
• There were individual Council and Staff interviews.
• The internet web site was used for feedback
• There were public information meetings.
• Presentations were made to Council and Standing Committees.

The result was 75 recommendations related to service delivery, Pars and Outdoor Facilities, Indoor Recreation Facilities, Culture Facilities, Libraries, Partnerships, Pricing and Financing Strategies.

The plan articulates and ranks 11 strategic priorities:

• Trail Master Plan
• Parks Maintenance
• Land Acquisition
• Target Community Benefits and Core Markets such as child youth services, at risk groups including low income and those with disabilities, as well as a review of the pricing structure and grant subsidies for programs.
• Multi-Purpose, Multi-Generational Facilities.  This means one stop shopping for youth in a program and parents able to participate in other activities in the same building.
• Capital Building Funds
• Milne Park Master Plan
• Feasibility of a large recreational facility with a regional draw
• Environmental practices in design and maintenance
• The Town's Role.  That bring the fundamental questions, "Is the Town an enabler or a partner?"
• Opportunities.  This has lead to partnerships with school boards for gymnasiums, soccer fields , seniors clubs and community organizations.
• The capital costs to implement the recommendations in the plan over 17 years will require ongoing analysis, updating and reconciliation.

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Key Statistics

The population projections and demographic analysis is the cornerstone to forecasting facility and service needs.  This is what drives the decision making.  By 2021, Markham's population is projected at 302,200 with growth in real numbers to 2016 in all population segments.  Policy changes can alter this number and so we need to keep adapting each year.  For example, the Provincial Growth Strategy may move these figures to 368,000 in the same timeframe.

The Greatest demand will be in the older adult segment.  By 2021, 32% of the population will be 55 or older.  There are provision standards that may need to be revised to forecast demand.  Currently there is 1 arena for every 24,000 residents, and one pool for every 50,000 residents.  These are Town wide figures, and do not take into account the number of private pools or arenas that my be built.

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Public Consultation Highlights

The input form public consultation shaped the priorities and recommendations of the Master Plan.  The general themes that emerged are, in priority ranking:

1. The need for more and better linked trails.
2. Enhanced technological libraries.  Some of this has been implemented at Angus Glen Library and The Markham Village Library Expansion.  The East Markham Centre Library and Community Center is planned to be state of the art.
3. Sportsfield development with lights and amenities such as washrooms.
4. Larger and more indoor multi-purpose facilities
5. Improvement and promotion of arts programs and arts and cultural facilities.
6. Upgrade existing facilities
7. World-class sports facilities
8. Indoor soccer and tennis facilities
9. More teen facilities and more diverse programs.
10. Partnerships with other organizations such as the Lawn Bowling Club, the Markham Green Golf Club and the Bocce Club.

Overall, the public consultation community groups gave the facilities an overall adequacy rating of 77%.  74% of the respondents rated Markham's parks and recreation facilities as good to excellent; 78% for arts and culture and 86% for the staff of the library.

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