| Last updated at 2:29 PM on 05/11/09 |
Trails, programs highlight rec plans 
Strategic plan for recreation pursuing several goals for town
PARRSBORO
ANDREW WAGSTAFF
The Amherst Citizen
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| Parrsboro recreation director Marc Chagnon and recreation committee chairman Coun. Dawn Reid look over the new strategic plan for recreation being pursued by the town. |
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The town recreation department is moving ahead on a number of priorities that have been arranged in a new strategic plan backed by town council.
The plan, put together by recreation coordinator Marc Chagnon and the town recreation committee, was formulated with community input through a survey circulated last year. Priority areas identified have included the development of trails, green spaces, facilities, programming, awareness, leadership development, support of community groups, and increased physical activity levels.
“We’re no going to accomplish everything in the next year or two, but we’re going to accomplish something,” said Coun. Dawn Reid, who chairs the recreation committee. “We’re not going to stray from this. This is our plan. We’re going to pick something, work on it until it’s completed and move on to something else.”
The top priority identified in the public survey for recreation was to address the lack of trails and safe walking opportunities in town, according to Chagnon, who said that priority is clearly addressed in the strategic plan. There is no walking trail system in town now, and not a single connected sidewalk loop exists. Many existing sidewalks are in a state of disrepair, including the one in front of South Cumberland Community Care Centre on Jenks Ave.
The goal is to develop a trail plan, and also to have council adopt a sidewalk improvement plan this winter.
The trail plan could include walking trails, and also could include multi-use trails for activities such as snowmobiling, according to Reid, who said she wants to clear up any misconceptions that town council is trying to keep snowmobilers out of town.
“It’s really not council holding it back, it’s private landowners holding back the skidoos from getting into town,” she said. “We are working on it. The town wants to promote business and help businesses out. It’s just not as simple as everybody thinks it is.”
She said she has met people from other municipalities that have overcome similar problems, and hopes to draw from their experience on matters such as approaching landowners.
Other priorities identified in the strategic plan include the improved quality of existing outdoor facilities and green spaces, including upgrading of the playground at the Don Yorke Memorial Ball Field and negotiating an agreement with the tennis association to revitalize the tennis courts. Also being looked at are multi-use facilities at Jurassic Park ball field, and a needs assessment/feasibility analysis of a common centre/gym/fitness facility.
Goals for programs and activities include increasing the scope of activities, maintaining/improving the quality of existing programs and improving accessibility to recreation opportunities.
“Winter activities are another big focus,” said Chagnon. “A lot are saying that all there is to do is hockey, and we need other stuff. Our first objective is to try and have one to three new activities introduced this winter.”
For example, mid-February will see Parrsboro participate in Cumberland Winterfest, a countywide event featuring a variety of activities aimed at getting people active. Indoor soccer has also been introduced this fall, and a new season of seniors games will be rolled out by the end of this month.
Reid admitted that funding will be vital for a lot of the initiatives in the strategic plan, but said that Chagnon has a great knowledge of grant programs available, and that many of the initiatives, such as creating awareness through a newsletter and website, will cost little or nothing. A lot of the town’s contributions could also come in-kind, Chagnon explained.
“Yes, the town will have to contribute a portion of it, but, for example, construction of a trail might be done in-kind by the public works crew, which could be the town’s contribution,” he said.
The scope and size of the project, as well as the budget, has yet to be determined, but the committee is moving ahead with its plans, with help from Health Promotion and Protection coordinator Jim Campbell.
It could be a three-year process, or it could be a seven to 10 year process, but the strategic plan will lay out what is getting done and how it is getting done, according to Chagnon.
“We’re making strides in the right direction,” he said.
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