(Photo from South Georgian Bay Tourism Website)
A new Memorial Park master plan has been adopted by Meaford council as a guideline for the next 25 years.
At a Committee of the Whole meeting on Nov. 29, a report was brought forward by CAO Rob Armstrong recommending council endorse the new master plan as a guiding document.
The report says the master plan includes a vision, guiding principles, goals and site layout. It features 94 projects at a total cost of between $4.2 million and $4.8 million.
Some of these projects include the completion of lower campground retaining wall improvements, reconfiguring the beachfront space and the upper and lower campground, and formalizing and upgrading the trail and road network.
Director of Community Services Matt Smith says starting next year, two projects will be undertaken.
“One is upgrades to the roadways, the entrance in particular, the other is some upgrades to the office of Memorial Park. The other projects won’t take place until 2023 or later,” says Smith.
The projects are categorized based on urgency, with the highest priority ones scheduled to be done within the next two years. It could take up to 25 years for the lower priority projects to start, if approved.
The report says the projects and estimated costs will be included in future work plans and budgets, which will require council approval closer to when they will be implemented.
Projects that will be addressed in the next 10 years include issues to drainage, critical electrical upgrades, and facility life safety rehabilitation.
In June 2018, council directed staff to start the master plan process for Memorial Park, which consisted of a series of policy reviews, engineering assessments, landscape architecture, and consultations with residents.
As a result, the master plan suggests enhancements, redevelopment, and maintenance of several aspects of the park.
The vision of the master plan in the report says, “Memorial Park offers opportunities for inspiration, health, and recreational enjoyment on the shores of Georgian Bay while protecting the natural landscape through sustainable practises for residents, visitors, and future generations.”
The guiding principles for moving forward with the master plan identify there will be no further reduction of green space acreage, which include camping areas, and no long-term or seasonal camping will be allowed.
Some of the goals for the park include the recreational facilities being maintained and managing the woodlands, so they are protected and enhanced where possible.
The master plan covers a 25-year range due to the lifespan of some of the park features like playground equipment and road trail surfaces.
Deputy Mayor Shirley Keaveney voiced her support of the master plan acknowledging how well it was put together.
“I think we have a really good report before us today that is really specific and pertinent to Memorial Park,” says Keaveney.