CITY WIDE IMPLICATIONS CITY OF HAMILTON COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT Recreation Division Report to: Mayor and Members Submitted by: Joe-Anne Priel Committee of the Whole General Manager Community Services Date: June 22, 2009 Prepared by: Diane LaPointe-Kay, Ext. 4610 SUBJECT: Outdoor Recreation Facility & Sports Field Provision Plan for Hamilton Recreation & Parks Public Use Facilities, Phase I Findings (CS09054) (City Wide) RECOMMENDATION: (a) That the Outdoor Recreation Facility & Sports Field Provision Plan for Hamilton Recreation & Parks Public Use Facilities, Phase I Findings, be received. (b) That the Guiding Principles for the Outdoor Recreation Facility & Sports Field Provision Plan for Hamilton Recreation & Parks Public Use Facilities, as outlined in Appendix A to Report CS09054, be approved. Joe-Anne Priel General Manager, Community Services Department EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: As part of the 2008 Capital Budget deliberations, Council approved undertaking a review of its outdoor recreation facilities, similar to the Indoor Use, Renovation and Replacement Study that was completed in 2008. The completion of the parks outdoor recreation and sport facilities provision plan will allow the City of Hamilton to strategically plan for its future parks outdoor recreation and sports needs in an organized and fiscally responsible manner. Monteith Brown Planning Consultants have been engaged to conduct this parks outdoor facility review, supported by industry experts from turf management, park and facility operations, and design disciplines. This team is also guided by a Steering Committee SUBJECT: Outdoor Recreation Facility & Sports Field Provision Plan for Hamilton Recreation & Parks Public Use Facilities, Phase I Findings (CS09054) (City Wide) - Page 2 of 13 made up of staff from Public Works, Planning, Finance and Community Services Department. The consultants have completed Phase 1 of the study scope which includes the Guiding Principles, Community Profiles, Public Consultation, Trends Analysis and Facility Inventories (attached as Appendix B to Report CS09054). Approval from Council is required for the Guiding Principles prior to the start of Phase II (final) Report. The Guiding Principles were developed in consultation with stakeholder groups and the general public. The Outdoor Recreation Facilities & Sports Field Provision Plan Guiding Principles (Attached as Appendix A to Report CS09054) are as follows: Guiding Principles: 1. Exercise Fiscal Accountability; 2. Build Healthy Communities and promote Outdoor Activity for Children and Persons of all Ages; 3. Collaborate with Others and Seek Innovative Solutions; 4. Invest Strategically in the Development, Redevelopment, and Repurposing of Outdoor Recreational Assets; 5. Ensure Appropriate Provision Levels; 6. Ensure Appropriate Maintenance Levels: 7. Engage the Community & Recognize our Differences; and, 8. Implement Designs that are Flexible, Accessible & Appropriate. There are no further recommendations at this time with regards to the study. The consultants will be returning in the fall of 2009 with Phase II (final) Report and recommendations for Council’s review. BACKGROUND: Status and findings from the Outdoor Recreation Facility and Sports Field Provision Study Phase I includes: • Review of the Socio-demographic trends of Hamilton’s population based on the released 2006 Census data and GRIDS forecasts; • Inventory review of the outdoor recreation facilities in parks, including analysis of the distribution and usage of each type; • Public consultation on Hamilton’s Outdoor Recreation Facilities; • Stakeholder and Council consultation; and, • Development of Guiding Principles in consultation with stakeholder groups and the general public. SUBJECT: Outdoor Recreation Facility & Sports Field Provision Plan for Hamilton Recreation & Parks Public Use Facilities, Phase I Findings (CS09054) (City Wide) - Page 3 of 13 A summary of the current findings is contained in the relevant consultation section of this report. In Phase II of the study, the consultants will be completing a detailed review of outdoor recreation and park facilities and amenities which will include: • Site visits to many parks to conduct an observation of general park uses; • A review of park maintenance procedures and current condition of major equipment and amenities, as well as examinations of field surfaces conducted by the Turfgrass Institute from Guelph University; and, • A benchmark exercise with several comparable Ontario municipalities will be undertaken to compare in contrast Hamilton’s number and mix of outdoor amenities (as well as budgets, staffing levels, provision targets, etc.). Following the completion of this research, the consultants will prepare recommendations, by using the Guiding Principles (attached as Appendix A to report CS09054) for Council’s consideration that will cover a broad perspective of the parks programming and maintenance operation including: • a long-term capital funding plan; • changes to the provision and distribution of some outdoor recreation sports fields based on findings; and, • improved outdoor sport and recreation administrative facility operating practices. The City of Hamilton currently owns, maintains and/or manages over 600 parks and open space sites. Approximately half of these locations are naturalized areas, utility corridors or undeveloped lands that do not contain recreation amenities. There are 315 active parks totalling 2,778 hectares which contain one or more sports fields, playgrounds, spray pads, multi-use courts and other recreation amenities. Currently the City maintains: • 239 diamonds; • 250 playgrounds; • 197 soccer and/or football fields; • 99 basketball/multi-use courts; • 87 tennis courts; • 60 +/- outdoor natural ice rinks, and 1 artificial ice rink; • 51 spray pads; • 16 wading pools; • 51 bocce courts; • 4 lawn bowling greens; • 5 outdoor running tracks; • 5 off-leash dog areas; • 5 skateboard parks; and, • 3 cricket pitches. SUBJECT: Outdoor Recreation Facility & Sports Field Provision Plan for Hamilton Recreation & Parks Public Use Facilities, Phase I Findings (CS09054) (City Wide) - Page 4 of 13 In addition, the local school boards, post-secondary institutions, and the private sector provide a degree of community access to a variety of outdoor recreational assets under their stewardship or shared use agreements with the City of Hamilton. Project Status: The project is currently on track and within the allotted budget. The project is divided into two phases, with Phase I nearing completion: Key Objectives: Phase I: • Review the current state of the outdoor recreation facilities and sports fields; • Undertake a demographic analysis of the City of Hamilton; • Consult with key stakeholders and the general public; and, • Develop guiding principles for the study. Phase II: • Conduct a benchmarking and best practices analysis; • Establish recreation facility supply standards; • Develop a long-term plan (to 2031) addressing: o Options for disposition and reconfiguration; o New projects; o Maintenance and capital spending; and, o Timing. • Prioritize city-wide and community-specific recommendations; • Create a financial strategy; and, • Identify opportunities for capital and operating partnerships. Public & Stakeholder Consultations: Under Phase I, the following consultation activities have been completed or are ongoing: • Random sample telephone survey of households (complete); • User group surveys for the major sports fields stakeholders (complete); • Focus group sessions with major user groups (complete); • Public Information Centres (complete); • Interviews with Council, city staff, and key partnering agencies (on-going); and, • Presentation to Committee of the Whole (on-going). SUBJECT: Outdoor Recreation Facility & Sports Field Provision Plan for Hamilton Recreation & Parks Public Use Facilities, Phase I Findings (CS09054) (City Wide) - Page 5 of 13 Activities Still To Be Completed: • Observation project to assess the quantity of use associated with facilities and amenities/assets in parks that are not currently tracked through facility bookings or program registrations (May/June/July); • Benchmarking exercise with a select group of peer municipalities; • A physical assessment of a select number of parks sports fields to determine current status of existing facilities’ usage patterns and capacity; and, • Review of turf maintenance practices using the Turfgrass Institute from Guelph University. ANALYSIS/RATIONALE: The same recreation planning geographical areas used in the Use, Renovation and Replacement Study for Hamilton Recreation and Public-use Facilities are being used for the Outdoor Recreation Facility and Sports Field Provision Study: • Ancaster • Hamilton Mountain • Beverly • Lower Hamilton • Flamborough • West Hamilton/Dundas • Glanbrook • Upper Stoney Creek • Lower Stoney Creek The Phase I report of the Outdoor Recreation Facility and Sports Field Provision Study information has been condensed into high level summaries of the socio-demographic findings, the public consultation results which include the household telephone study, public information sessions, and the focus group workshops. Readers are encouraged to refer to “Outdoor Recreation Facilities and Sports Field Provision Plan Phase I Report” attached as Appendix B to Report CS09054 for more detailed information. Socio-Demographic Analysis: The socio-demographic analysis is consistent with the findings of the Indoor Public Use, Renovation & Replacement Study completed