Recreation, Arts, and Culture Master Plan March 2018 (Draft) Recreation, Arts & Culture Master Plan Executive Summary The strategic directions are presented below, in no particular order: The Recreation, Arts & Culture Master Plan Focus on Healthy Communities identifies needs and priorities for the Encourage active lifestyles, public Township and its community stakeholders to engagement, and strong communities. consider towards 2028. Over the course of this ten year period, Zorra’s population is Work Together expected to grow from 8,172 to 8,332 Build capacity through continuous staff residents. Changes in Zorra’s age profile development, supporting volunteers, and together with evolving interests among seeking community partners in the delivery of residents provided the impetus for the parks, recreation, arts, and culture services. Township to undertake this Master Plan to ensure that parks, recreation, arts, and Promote Awareness of Opportunities culture facilities, programs, and services are Promote the coordinated communication of aligned with current and future needs. parks, recreation, arts, and culture opportunities and facilitate the sharing of The Master Plan’s methodology involved a information among community partners. combination of research, consultation, and assessment efforts. Through open houses, Keep Facilities Relevant focus groups, interviews, and surveys, the Commit to a high standard of facility Master Plan’s engagement strategy resulted maintenance and management, and in the direct participation of residents, update and renew aging facilities, as representatives of community groups, necessary, in coordination with facility users. Township staff, Council, and the Zorra Recreation Advisory Committee. Common Enhance Parks, Open Spaces, and Trails themes expressed during consultations Be stewards of parks, open spaces, and trails included the recognition of the program and to ensure that current and future generations service delivery role of the Township’s are able to experience Zorra’s natural community groups and volunteers, requests environment. for new facilities and programs, the desire for enhanced trail connections, the need to maximize the use of the Township’s indoor “A vibrant, prosperous, engaged, and and outdoor recreation facilities, and the environmentally conscious community need to improve communication between that evokes pride in residents for its the Township, stakeholders, and residents. accomplishments and continuing resilience as it forges the future.” Five strategic directions were developed to serve as the framework for advancing parks, Township of Zorra Vision recreation, arts, and culture in the Township 2015-2018 Strategic Plan of Zorra. The strategic directions are high level directional statements that support the Township’s 2015-2018 Strategic Plan, which declares that Zorra is “A vibrant, prosperous, engaged, and environmentally conscious community that evokes pride in residents for its accomplishments and continuing resilience as it forges the future.” Township of Zorra i Recreation, Arts & Culture Master Plan The Master Plan contains 53 programs, and services in the Township recommendations spanning the municipal with a view of promoting opportunities delivery of parks, recreation, arts, and culture and addressing gaps in service provision. facilities, programs, and services, which have 5. Proceed with the development of a been prioritized into short, medium, and long spray pad and skateboard park in term actions. The following synopsis Thamesford and explore the potential of summarizes the most pressing actions for the the Zorra Water and Wheels Committee Township to implement in the coming years to lead fundraising efforts for a small (not necessarily presented in order of priority scale spray pad and skateboard park in or timing). Embro. 1. Monitor ice utilization and ice sport 6. Develop a playground replacement participation trends as well as program to establish a plan to renew coordination with adjacent aging playground structures. The design municipalities on ice provision strategies. of new and redeveloped playgrounds This process should include strategies to should consider accessible features, as bolster ice usage and optimize ice well as risky play and natural features operations, such as introducing new such as ropes, higher heights, boulders, drop-in skating programs, working with wood, stones, and more. user groups on strategies to optimize 7. Enhance trail opportunities in Zorra by available ice, engaging local schools to continuing to implement Zorra-specific use the arena, and continuing to elements of the County of Oxford Trails promote usage to non-local users. Master Plan and the park-based trail Blackout periods may also be required in routes identified in this Master Plan. The coordination with ice users to minimize Terms of Reference for the Zorra scheduling conflicts. Recreation Advisory Committee should 2. Engage in discussions with the Ingersoll also be reviewed to oversee trail Fusion Centre and Ingersoll Services for development activity (including Seniors to explore opportunities to meet coordinating with Oxford County Trails the needs of Zorra youth, older adults, Council) and advise Council on trail- and seniors, including outreach related matters. programs and services. 8. In order to position the Recreation 3. Prepare an updated conceptual design Department to meet the current and plan for the Thamesford District future needs of the community and to Recreation Centre to serve as a vision for address the recommendations of this the park and to guide future Master Plan: development. The concept should a. Adopt a Department mandate; incorporate the recreation facilities recommended in this Master Plan b. Create a Recreation Facilities & including a full size soccer field, adult ball Services Manager position; diamond, beach volleyball courts, c. Review, revise, and update the basketball court, trail routes, and outdoor roles and responsibilities of each fitness equipment. The need to relocate staff member periodically; and existing outdoor recreation facilities should also be considered. d. Prepare a staff development and training plan. 4. Undertake a cultural mapping exercise to identify local arts and cultural providers, Township of Zorra ii Recreation, Arts & Culture Master Plan Table of Contents Executive Summary ..................................................................................................................................... i 1.0 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Importance of Master Planning ..................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Purpose ............................................................................................................................................... 1 1.3 Methodology and Approach ........................................................................................................ 2 1.4 Alignment with Strategic Policy Documents and Background Review ................................ 3 2.0 Key Inputs to Consider ................................................................................................................... 5 2.1 Community Profile ............................................................................................................................ 5 2.2 Trends in Parks, Recreation, Arts, and Culture ............................................................................ 7 3.0 Community Engagement ............................................................................................................. 13 3.1 Summary of Community Engagement Themes ....................................................................... 13 3.2 Public Open Houses ....................................................................................................................... 14 3.3 Online Community Survey ............................................................................................................ 17 3.4 Student Survey ................................................................................................................................ 20 3.5 Focus Groups ................................................................................................................................... 22 3.6 Council and Staff Interviews ......................................................................................................... 23 4.0 Strategic Directions ....................................................................................................................... 24 4.1 Strategic Directions for Parks, Recreation, Arts, and Culture ................................................. 24 5.0 Parks, Open Spaces, and Trails ................................................................................................... 25 5.1 Zorra’s Supply of Parkland............................................................................................................. 25 5.2 Parkland Policies and Acquisition Guidelines ........................................................................... 29 5.3 Enhancing Trails in Zorra ................................................................................................................ 31 6.0 Recreation Facilities ....................................................................................................................