Recreation Master Plan
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Agenda Item: 7.4 Request for Decision Regular Council - 11 Jun 2019 Subject: Recreation Master Plan PREPARED BY: DEPARTMENT: Leo Ludwig Administration CAO APPROVALS: Leo Ludwig, CAO Approved - 05 Jun 2019 Background: During the Budget discussions in April, the concept to generate a Recreation Master Plan was introduced and subsequently approved for inclusion in Budget 2019 on May 14, 2019. At the May 28 Council meeting, a request to update Council on the progress of the Recreation Master Plan was presented with a report to be presented at the June 11, 2019 Council meeting. As part of administration reviewing the process for a Recreation Master Plan, administration was informed by a staff member that a consultant was hired in 2011 to provide a Recreation Master Plan for Westlock County. A very comprehensive report was produced and presented to Council in 2012. Information we have is that the report was accepted by Council, but the subsequent Council elected in 2013 was not interested in pursuing the plan so it was shelved and virtually forgotten. Fortunately a staff member involved at the time in assisting with the process remembered that this work was done and had also remembered where copies were filed. Attached are copies of the work done at that time. While the work is somewhat dated and, due to it only being recently unearthed, administration has not had time to do a comprehensive review, we are recommending that Council consider a pause on initiating a new Recreation Master Plan Study. A pause would give staff and Council time to review the existing material and then be in a position to better determine if the material still holds value today, with perhaps some fine-tuning, or if a new full Master Plan process would be the better course of action. Attachments: Recreation Inventory North Development Outline Plan 2013-2022 Recommendation: That Council and administration review the 2011 Recreation Report and provide feedback at the June 25, 2019 Council meeting with regards to updating the report or commissioning a new Recreation Master Plan study. Page 1 of 103 Recreation Inventory Program 1 Page 2 of 103 Recreation Inventory Program Created By: Adam Esch August 225, 2011 Page 3 of 103 Table of Contents 1.0 Introduction.................................................................................................4 2.0 Community Profile.......................................................................................4 3.0 Purpose and Methodology..........................................................................5 4.0 Background..................................................................................................6 4.1. Province of Alberta Land Use Framework......................................6 4.2. Growth Alberta…………………………………………………..……………..………8 5.0 Current Recreation Summary……………………………………………………………… 8 5.1. Developed Recreation Facilities……………………………………………… 8 5.2. Sites Under Development……………………………………………………………. 9 5.3. Potential Sites………………………………………………………………………………. 9 5.4. Special Interest Site…………………………………………………………………………..11 6.0 Current Management Issues…………………………………………………………………11 6.1. Short Term Management Strategy…………………………………………….12 6.2. Long Term Management Strategy………………………………………………….13 Westlock County North…………………………………………………………………………………13 Westlock County Central……………………………………………………………………………..15 Westlock County South………………………………………………………………………………17 WESTLOCK COUNTY NORTH…………………………………………………………………………..18 Long Island Lake Municipal Campground……………………………………………………19 Spruce Island Lake Natural Area.........................................................................32 Goodridge Lake Crown Land...............................................................................53 Fawcett Bridge....................................................................................................61 Hubert Lake Wildland Provincial Park...............................................................67 Kodiak Lake……………………………………………………………………………………............ 76 Rocky Top ATV Park……………………………………………………………………………………84 WESTLOCK COUNTY CENTRAL……………………………………………………………………..90 Tawatinaw Valley Alpine & Nordic Centre.........................................................91 $10 Campground................................................................................................101 Anton Lake Natural Area...................................................................................108 Antonson Park.................................................................................................113 Bouchard Lake...................................................................................................121 Buck For Wildlife at Rossington..........................................................................129 Clyde Fens..........................................................................................................134 Rottier’s Beach...................................................................................................144 Tawatinaw Area...................................................................................................156 Vega Pit...............................................................................................................159 WESTLOCK COUNTY SOUTH………………………………………………………………………165 Rainbow Park.......................................................................................................166 Landing Trail Crown Land....................................................................................180 Tawatinaw Valley Non-Motorized Recreation Complex……………………………….190 SPECIAL INTEREST – PEMBINA RIVER……………………………………………………….192 3 Page 4 of 103 1.0 Introduction Westlock County is located in North Central Alberta and is home to some of the most productive agricultural land in Alberta. Westlock County consists of 12,000 square miles and is situated less than one hour from the province’s capital city of Edmonton. Westlock County is home to over 7,000 residents and encompasses an immediate market population of approximately 12,000. The County believes that a major factor in determining community attractiveness and quality of life for residents is by providing and maintaining an excellent level of recreation and parks facilities. The Westlock County Recreation Inventory Program outlines the research, analyses and ultimate recommendations for the future provision of facilities, parks and programming in the County and will be used by Westlock County to guide the long term planning, design and development of all public spaces and outdoor recreational facilities within the county. 2.0 Community Profile Westlock County lies on the boundary of two of Canada’s largest watershed basins. To the north is the Athabasca River, which drains into the Arctic Ocean via the Mackenzie River and to the south is the Sturgeon River which drains via the North Saskatchewan River into the Hudson Bay. The terrain features an abundance of densely wooded areas, natural aspen, parkland and open agricultural lands. Westlock County encompasses a thriving, progressive farm economy. In spite of ongoing developments in the oil and gas industry, Westlock County continues to rely on the agricultural industry as the primary engine of economic development. Agriculture forms the base upon which the survival of the local economy is structured. Agricultural operations range from large, land-based grain farms to multi-mixed farms to specialized intensive farming operations. Two of Alberta’s largest volume livestock auction facilities are contained within Westlock County. The County is proud of its role in promoting sustainable agriculture. With a strong agriculture base, good transportation services and progressive communities, Westlock County is well positioned for growth. The excellent highway transportation network positions the County at the gateway to natural resources of energy, forestry and tourism. The diversity of the landscape is comparable to the diversity of the social fabric that has been woven together to form the rich history of the County. With its lakes, rivers, streams, good campgrounds, sand hills and jack pine, first-class highways, plus convention and tourist facilities in a rural setting not far from a major city, Westlock County offers a warm welcome to visitors - and great opportunities for residents. 4 Page 5 of 103 3.0 Purpose and Methodology The purpose of the Recreation Inventory Program is to provide a strategic document to guide the provision, enhancement and development of facilities, parks and programming in the County. The Recreation Inventory was completed by first dividing Westlock County into three planning areas based on the following criteria: Planning areas that encompass only what is within the Westlock County Boundary Planning area boundaries that follow easy to identify features such as major roads Planning areas contain and group similar areas of recreation, stakeholders and regional interests Planning Area 1 - Westlock County North Planning Area 2 - Westlock County Central Planning Area 3 - Westlock County South 5 Page 6 of 103 4.0 Background The intent of the Recreation Inventory Program is to build upon the goals and strategies in the existing County planning documentation. The Westlock County Integrated Community Sustainability Plan is the primary guiding document for service delivery, community development and governance in Westlock County. The vision for Westlock County states: By 2019, Westlock County’s vision is to increase its population in the