A long-term plan for the future of Oakville’s parks, libraries and recreation centres was approved by town councillors on Nov. 5.
With 101 recommendations, the plan will guide how the town provides services and amenities over the next decade, along with highlighting big capital spending needs through to 2051.
The wide-ranging plan covers everything from Oakville’s per capita need for pickleball courts (one for every 5,000 to 10,000 residents), to the addition and winterization of park washrooms, to the “equitable balance of leash-free dog areas across town.”
Along with identifying necessary new community centres and libraries in fast-growing northern areas of town, it suggests the need to renovate and expand existing town facilities, while also growing parkland supply.
But the $350,000 strategy, authored by consulting firm Monteith Brown, also highlights changing trends, along with the challenges that will face Oakville as it continues to grow.
Here’s what you need to know.
New stuff is pretty certain; fixes to old stuff is not guaranteed
As Oakville gets bigger, its new residents will need pools, libraries, trails and other fun places. Cash to pay for those facilities will largely come from development charges, which are fees the town collects when new homes are built.
With the money for new things in the bank, it’s pretty certain the planned new Palermo Village community centre ($29 million) and the new Trafalgar Urban Core library branch ($28 million) will be built.
But recommendations to expand and revitalize Glen Abbey community centre ($50 to $70 million) and establish a new Bronte library branch ($3 to $6 million) have no funds behind them.
That will force older areas of town to compete with other priorities for scarce funding.
It’s also likely to ramp up geographic tensions, as shiny new facilities arrive in some areas, while others continue to age.
This is not your father’s library
Land costs and availability in densely developing new areas of town will force a new look for tomorrow’s rec centres, libraries and even parks.
Expect to see “smaller and more intensely programmed” facilities integrated into condominium buildings or in other shared spaces, says the new plan.
The town’s first example is expected to open by 2028, when a new library branch will begin serving north Oakville residents from the ground floor of a Branthaven high-rise building.
Read more here: New public library branch planned for high rise condo
Along with looking to new models and partnerships to create community space, the town will also have to look to new sources of funding.
“Creative financial arrangements will be required, such as the sale of air rights above town facilities,” says the new plan.
Dumping cold water on outdoor pools
The future of the five outdoor swimming pools in south Oakville is in doubt.
The plan calls for a “modernization strategy” for Bronte, Brookdale, Wedgewood, Lions and Falgarwood pools. The suggestion is to consolidate the aging neighbourhood facilities into a few larger, more modern pools.
“It’s a matter of looking at those five sites and saying are we going to continue to invest in these 5 pools as they are … or do we start looking to re-imagine them?” explained Steve Langlois of Monteith Brown, in a presentation to town councillors.
Creating larger facilities with more accessible and interactive water features, as well as bigger, shaded deck areas, would attract more users to the outdoor pools, he said.
Ward 2 councillor Ray Chisholm pushed back on the recommendation, arguing that the smaller pools are walk-to neighbourhood amenities that should be preserved.
The popularity of parks
When Oakville residents were asked where additional town spending should be directed, about 80 per cent of respondents pointed to parkland acquisition. Only new park washrooms ranked higher in popularity.
Recent provincial changes have reduced the amount of parkland the town can demand from developers, so the plan calls for finding ways to maximize the impact and value of new and existing parks.
Ideas include re-investing in older parks with a greater emphasis on providing amenities such as seating, washrooms, shade and community gardens, to help residents use the areas as “outdoor living rooms.”
New, more densely developed areas will also feature more urban squares and parks that will require adequate funding to animate and maintain.
A few interesting recommendations:
- Consider the development of an auditorium space for community theatre, rehearsals and events within the library or community centre proposed for Trafalgar Urban Core South.
- Target the development of up to 45 additional outdoor pickleball courts to serve population growth across Oakville by 2051.
- Consider the development of a refrigerated skating trail in Northwest Oakville, possibly at the Fogolar’s property.
- Reclassify skateboard parks as “all wheels parks” and integrate this term into the town’s signage and promotions. Develop 4 to 5 new all-wheels parks to address needs in growing areas and geographic gaps in Northeast, Northwest Oakville, and Southwest Oakville.
- Develop a minimum of 2 additional cricket fields within the town’s parks system by 2051 (excluding the field at Sixteen Mile Sports Park).
- Develop a sports field strategy to enhance existing soccer, multi -use, baseball, and cricket fields, including revisiting lighting restrictions for parks south of Dundas Street that can meet key criteria.
- Prepare a Sport Tourism Strategy.
- Develop guidelines to support the design of designated open space exercise zones where the community can organize fitness classes (yoga, tai chi, etc.).
Update, Monday, Nov. 11, 7:00 p.m.: An earlier version of this story incorrectly said the council meeting reviewing these detals was Oct. 5, 2024. The correct date is now listed above.