Last night at GC, Council discussed the Town of Aurora’s draft Parks and Recreation master plan. This plan outlines our vision for the town’s parks and recreational spaces over the next ten years, with a focus on increasing access to sports facilities and promoting active lifestyles.
The draft master plan identifies several key priorities for the town, including enhancing the quality of existing parks and recreational facilities, increasing access to green spaces, and promoting healthy and active lifestyles. The plan also aims to address demographic changes in the town, such as an aging population and an increase in the number of families with young children and our growing diversity. However, one of the most significant aspects of the plan is its emphasis on sports and physical activity.
As a community, we understand the importance of sports in promoting physical health, social connections, and community engagement. To this end, the plan includes initiatives to increase the availability of sports facilities and programs in the town, such as establishing an outdoor pickleball complex, advancing reconstruction of the AFLC skate park, and addressing gaps in playground and sport court provision through future park projects as well as a business plan to construct an outdoor refrigerated Hockey Rink – which I will be bringing a motion forward ….
The plan also recommends pursuing options for securing land to support a new community centre, which would include an indoor pool, gymnasium, walking track, and more. This has been a long-standing goal for the town, and the Council will renew talks with the school board for the GW Williams property on Dunning as a possible future facility. I have always believed that a community centre in this location would be a hub for sports activities in the town, providing residents with a year-round space to play and compete in our southern downtown area. Also the lands previously known as George St Public School have been deemed surplus – this is an excellent opportunity for the Town to secure these lands, as these lands would allow for the Town to increase our supply of lands for parks and recreation, which we are in short supply of.
The draft plan’s focus on sports and physical activity is a significant step forward for the Town of Aurora. By providing more opportunities for residents to engage in sports and physical activity, we can improve the health and well-being of our community while also promoting social connections and community engagement.
As we continue to promote Aurora as a sports tourism destination, the plan will help attract visitors and boost the local economy. By implementing this plan over the next ten years, Aurora will become an even more vibrant and healthy community, known across the country as one of the best places to live, work, and play.
While this is a good first step this draft plan still needs some work. I hope that all Aurorans take time review the draft Parks and Recreation master plan and provide your feedback by May 3rd. Your input is vital to the success of this plan, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts. And when the final plan comes for approval in June we will truly have a community plan that will work for all of our needs.
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