Parks and Recreation Master Plan

Community engagement is a key part of the process. To initiate community engagement, we had an in person and virtual engagement session hosted by our consultants (MGA) which were held: 

• In person on September 14, 2022, between 4:30pm to 6:30pm to view the draft concept plans for Fiddle Park and ask questions. From 7:00pm to 9:00pm join in the engagement session which will gather your input and discuss the communities’ vision for the Town’s Parks and Recreation.
  Located at the Centre Dufferin recreation Complex located at 200 Fiddle Park Lane, Shelburne, ON.
• Virtual on September 21, 2022, from 7:00pm to 9:00pm

During these sessions we gathered your input and discussed the communities’ vision for the Town’s Parks and Recreation, including what indoor and outdoor programs and recreational facilities the community would like provided. 

Survey closed - Parks and Recreation Master Plan

We want to hear about your ideas and the communities’ vision for the Town’s Parks and Recreation, including what indoor and outdoor programs and recreational facilities the community would like provided.

The online survey can be found https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NL7J252 and will be open until October 31, 2022 

Survey closed - Fiddle Park Plan

Have your Say Shelburne on the Future of Fiddle Park

An online community survey was launched on September 13 and closed on October 11, 2021. The survey was posted on the Have Your Say Shelburne engagement website and promoted through the Town’s social media and a video. A total of 481 participants responded to the survey. Survey results are illustrated graphically in the below Planning Report P2021-48 - Fiddle Park November 22, 2021. 

Your input and preferences are very important to us! The draft concept plans were developed based on the communities' input from the Fiddle Park survey that was completed in 2021.

In 2022 additional comments were received from the community from September 21 to October 31, 2022. Comments were submitted online or by paper copy to the Town Office located at 203 Main Street East, using the Fiddle Park Concept Plan Feedback Form.

The three draft concept plans for Fiddle Park are provided below.

Concept option 1 

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Concept option 2

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Concept option 3

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Council’s commitment to the Parks and Recreation Master Plan is outlined in Council’s Strategic Priorities

3 Goals 

Council’s Strategic Priorities has three Goals - Sustainable, Engaged and Livable.

There are a total of 12 targets with the three Goals. This report aligns with the Sustainable, Engaged and Livable Goals within the Targets:

• T2 Municipal services review and evaluation
• T3 Invest and fund critical infrastructure for future 
• T6 Promote more open communication 
• T7 Promote partnerships and collaboration 
• T9 Promote age-friendly, multi-cultural community
• T10 Improve and enhance parks and recreation services
• T11 Improve community connections
• T12 Support and celebrate arts and culture

History

A Parks and Recreation Master Plan is a framework intended to identify the parks and recreation facilities and services that are required, where they should be provided, the timing of their development and how they can be delivered. 

In 2009, the Town created the first Town-wide Parks Master Plan for Shelburne. The 2009 Master Plan reflects the desires expressed by the community for increasing community use of Fiddle Park. Continued improvements to Fiddle Park were recommended to support increased community access and use.

The 2022 Master Plan will build on and update previous studies including the Active Transportation Master Plan (2006) and the Shelburne Parks Master Plan (2009). The Town’s Official Plan also provides policies for parkland acquisition with new development and population growth, and the Master Plan will help to inform future updates to these policies.

The 2022 Master Plan will also align with and provide direction for further advancing implementation of key recommendations of the Community Improvement Plan (2019) related to parks and recreation, in particular Big Move #7 which recommends redesigning Fiddle Park as a community hub.

Parks & Recreation Master Plan Draft - Council Meeting June 26, 2023
Fiddle Park Plan Draft - Council Meeting June 26, 2023
Town of Shelburne Parks and Recreation Master Plan Survey Results
Planning Report P2021-38 - Parks and Recreation Master Plan
Planning Report P2021-48 - Fiddle Park November 22, 2021
Presentation for Engagement Session September 14, 2022
Park Management Plan 2006
Parks Master Plan 2009
CAO 2021-04 regarding Jack Downing Park Project
Planning P2021-38 Parks and Recreation Master Plan – Work Plan Overview

Timeline

Phase 1 Information Gathering and Visioning

The first phase of the project involves gathering information through research, analysis and community engagement to understand the current context, factors that may influence future recreational needs, and establish an overall vision for the future of parks and recreation in Shelburne. This phase involves the following tasks: 

• Review inventory of existing parks and recreation assets and their age, overall condition and level of use; 
• Review of related background documents, plans and strategies and identify implications for the Master Plan; 
• Community surveys, focus groups and interviews with stakeholders to obtain feedback on strengths and areas for improvement, future needs and desires and recreational interests;
• Identify recreational trends and demographic characteristics and growth-related considerations that will impact future needs;
• Summarize the results of the background review and consultation by identifying key themes and directions for the Master Plan along with an overall draft vision statement.

To initiate community engagement, an online survey was developed to gather input and ideas for Fiddle Park. This will be followed by an additional community survey to gather input on Town-wide parks and recreation matters, as well as stakeholder meetings. Project awareness will be generated through the Town’s social media outlets, external media release and a project website.

Phase 2: Draft Master Plan

• Establish the foundations of the Master Plan by identifying goals and principals to guide future decision-making and recommended actions of the Master Plan, towards achieving the draft vision statement;
• Recommend draft policies and actions for the next ten years, and an implementation plan to prioritize and identify timing and related resource needs as well as funding considerations and strategies;
• Prepare a draft concept plan for Fiddle Park;
• Obtain community and stakeholder feedback on the above, summarize the feedback received and consider further analysis and revision that may be required to respond.

Phase 3: Final Master Plan

• Revise the draft Master Plan based on the community and stakeholder feedback received;
• Revise the Fiddle Park concept plan, recommend a phasing plan, timing and estimate of costs for implementation of the improvements;
• Present the final Master Plan and Fiddle Park concept to Council and the public for final review and feedback; 
• Finalize and present the Master Plan and Fiddle Park concept plan for consideration of Council adoption.