FINAL REPORT Strategic Facility Plan, Township of Oro-Medonte March, 2010 March 31, 2010 Shawn Binns, Director Recreation and Community Services Department Township of Oro-Medonte 148 Line 7 South Box 100, Oro LOL 2X0 Dear Mr. Binns: The RETHINK GROUP is pleased to submit this Draft Report of the Strategic Facility Plan for the Township of Oro-Medonte. The Strategy researched and evaluated most types of leisure facilities and offers recommendations that are aligned to broad time frames, looking out twenty years. This comprehensive township-wide Strategy should act as the guiding framework for decision-making. It builds upon and integrates the individual provision strategies that have been developed for each type of facility. Key elements and themes include: measures to reduce deficiencies; consolidation and clustering of some facilities to improve efficiency and effectiveness; establishing the three-tiered hierarchy of parks and facilities (local, community and township-wide/regional) as the basis of service delivery; encouraging partnerships and strategic alliances with other public entities, and the non-profit and commercial sectors; and gradually and steadily increasing the direct and indirect role of the Municipality in the provision of leisure services - including an increased emphasis on leisure interests that are growing in popularity. Fundamental to the Strategic Facility Plan are the Planning and Provision Principles, which provide the philosophical foundation and key policy direction. The principles also provide a ‘touch stone’ to help evaluate decisions under consideration, as well as some of the tools to help refine the Strategy over time. Integral to the Strategic Facility Plan is the detailed feasibility study for the proposed new arena complex and the outdoor facilities recommended for the Guthrie site. Although Chapter Six has been dedicated to the feasibility study, the associated recommendations have been integrated throughout the entire report. The Strategy is based on certain assumptions about growth and development, as well as trends in leisure demand that will have to be regularly monitored. If conditions change, unexpected opportunities arise and/or development proceeds differently than anticipated, the Strategy will need to be adjusted in response. For that reason, flexibility is a cornerstone of the Strategy. It was a pleasure to work with Township Council, municipal staff and the citizens of Oro-Medonte Township to help shape the best possible leisure services system for your community. Respectfully submitted, The RETHINK GROUP Robert Lockhart Robert Lockhart, Partner The RETHINK GROUP Leisure Services Planning and Management with AECOM Architects Canada Ltd., Basterfield & Associates Landscape Architects, and the Tourism Company Page 1 FINAL REPORT Strategic Facility Plan, Township of Oro-Medonte March, 2010 The RETHINK GROUP Leisure Services Planning and Management with AECOM Architects Canada Ltd., Basterfield & Associates Landscape Architects, and the Tourism Company Page 2 FINAL REPORT Strategic Facility Plan, Township of Oro-Medonte March, 2010 Acknowledgments The RETHINK GROUP team would like to acknowledge the significant contributions made by the following individuals and entities. Township of Oro-Medonte Council (2006-2010) Harry Hughes, Mayor Ralph Hough, Deputy Mayor Mel Coutanche, Councillor, Ward 1 Terry Allison, Councillor, Ward 2 Sandy Agnew, Councillor, Ward 3 John Crawford, Councillor, Ward 4 Dwight Evans, Councillor, Ward 5 The Recreation Technical Support Group (2006-2010) Councillor Mel Coutanche Councillor John Crawford Councillor Sandy Agnew Ted Duncan Reta Regelink Carolyn Tripp Kelly Meyer Bob Gregory Phillip Patchell Linda Murray John Thornton Municipal Staff Robin Dunn, CAO Shawn Binns, Director, Recreation and Community Services Andria Leigh, Director, Development Services Paul Gravelle, Director, Finance Jerry Ball, Director, Transportation and Environmental Services Margaret Prewer, Recreation and Community Services Assistant Rick Yule, Supervisor, Parks and Facility Operations We would also like to acknowledge members of the Community Hall Boards, the Accessibility Advisory Committee, various other stakeholder groups, other members of Oro-Medonte staff, and the citizens of Oro-Medonte Township who contributed to the preparation of this report through the Community Group Survey, submissions and briefs, the Search Conference, focus group workshops, and the Community Forum. The RETHINK GROUP Leisure Services Planning and Management with AECOM Architects Canada Ltd., Basterfield & Associates Landscape Architects, and the Tourism Company Page 3 FINAL REPORT Strategic Facility Plan, Township of Oro-Medonte March, 2010 The RETHINK GROUP Leisure Services Planning and Management with AECOM Architects Canada Ltd., Basterfield & Associates Landscape Architects, and the Tourism Company Page 4 FINAL REPORT Strategic Facility Plan, Township of Oro-Medonte March, 2010 Table of Contents Letter of Transmittal ……….…………………………………………………………….……. 1 Acknowledgements ………………..………………………………………………………….... 3 Table of Contents …………………..…………………………………………………………... 5 Summary of Recommendations Township-wide Provision Strategy ….…………..……………………….……... 9 Overview of the Facility-Specific Provision Strategies …..…..……………..…. 12 Implications for the Proposed Multi-use Recreation Complex ……………….... 18 Implementation Strategy …………………………….…………………………. 19 Chapter 1: Introduction 1.1 Scope of Work …….…………………………………………………… 23 1.2 Report Format ……………………………………………………..…… 23 Chapter 2: Community Profile 2.1 Introduction …………………………………………………………..… 25 2.2 The Market Area ……………………………………………………….. 25 2.3 Community and Planning Context ….………………………………..… 26 2.4 Current Population (age structure, socio-demographic characteristics) .. 28 2.5 Looking to the Future and Implications for Leisure Services …...……... 35 Chapter 3: Delivery of Leisure Services 3.1 Introduction …………………………………………………………….. 43 3.2 Department of Recreation and Community Services …………………... 44 3.3 Private/Community-based Parkland and Open Space …………………. 50 3.4 Libraries ………………………………………………………………... 50 3.5 The County of Simcoe …………………………………………………. 51 3.6 Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources ……………………………….... 51 3.7 Conservation Authorities ………………………………………………. 52 3.8 The Simcoe County District School Board …………………………….. 52 3.9 The Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board ……………….... 53 3.10 Federal Resources …………………………………………………….... 53 3.11 The Couchiching Conservancy ………………………………………… 53 3.12 Trails …………………………………………………………………… 54 3.13 The Private/Commercial Sector ………………………………………... 55 3.14 Other Non-Commercial Sites …………………………………………... 57 3.15 Voluntary Groups, Associations, Clubs, Hall Boards ………………….. 57 3.16 Affordability ………………………………………………………….... 59 The RETHINK GROUP Leisure Services Planning and Management with AECOM Architects Canada Ltd., Basterfield & Associates Landscape Architects, and the Tourism Company Page 5 FINAL REPORT Strategic Facility Plan, Township of Oro-Medonte March, 2010 Chapter 4: Facilities – Analysis and Provision Strategies 4.1 Introduction …………………………………………………………..… 61 4.2 Broad Indicators of Current Unmet and Future Demand for Leisure Services ………………………………. 61 4.3 Planning and Provision Principles …………………………………..…. 68 4.4 Arenas ………………………………………………………………….. 71 4.5 Indoor Multi-purpose Space (including public and other community halls) ……………………………………………….... 85 4.6 Fitness Facilities ………………………………………………………. 104 4.7 Aquatic Facilities …………………………………………………...… 106 4.8 Ball Diamonds ………………………………………………………... 106 4.9 Soccer Facilities ………………………………………………………. 118 4.10 Multi-purpose Sport Pads …………………………………………….. 124 4.11 Tennis Courts ……………………………………………………….… 127 4.12 Older Adult Facilities ……………………………………………….… 129 4.13 Cultural Facilities ……………………………………………………... 135 4.14 Curling Facilities …………………………………….………………... 136 4.15 Library Facilities/Services ………………………………………….… 136 4.16 Wharfs and Boat Launches …………………………………………… 137 4.17 Neighbourhood/Community Parkland Planning and Development ….. 141 Chapter 5: Township-wide Provision Strategy for Leisure Facilities 5.1 Introduction ……………………………………………………..……. .143 5.2 Summary of System-wide Findings and Conclusions ……………..…. 143 5.3 Overview of the Way Facilities are Recommended to be Provided Across the Township………………………………….……………….. 148 5.4 Overview of the Facility-Specific Strategies …………………………. 150 5.5 Implications for the Proposed Multi-use Recreation Complex ……….. 156 Chapter 6: Feasibility Analysis of the Multi-use Recreation Complex 6.1 Introduction …………………………………………………………… 159 6.2 The Evolving Facility Concept ……………………………………….. 160 6.3 Guiding Principles for Planning, Design and Operation ……..………. 162 6.4 The Conceptual Facility Design and Facility-Fit Site Plan ….…….…. 163 6.5 The Space Program and Capital Cost Estimate for the Arena Complex 171 6.6 Capital Cost Estimate for Site Development ……………………….… 173 6.7 Financial Projections ……………………………………………….… 175 6.8 Summary of Advantages of a New Arena Complex………………….. 190 Chapter 7: Implementation Strategy 7.1 Introduction …………………………………………………………… 193 7.2 Flexibility and Timing ………………………………………………... 193 7.3 Co-operation and Collaboration ………………………………………. 194 7.4 Review and Modification ……………………………………………... 195 7.5 Phasing and Twenty-Year Capital Plan ………………………………. 196 7.6 Financing Strategy ……………………………………………………. 202 The RETHINK GROUP Leisure Services Planning and Management with AECOM Architects Canada Ltd., Basterfield