The City of Burlington’s Live and Play Plan is now ready. Staff will begin preparing an implementation plan to present to Council in the Fall.

The Live and Play Plan will guide recreational and city-operated cultural facility decisions over the next 20 to 30 years and will ensure that Burlington continues to provide a range recreational and cultural choices that engage residents. It also works to ensure that the city grows as an environmentally sustainable, vibrant and economically strong community with ties to the Climate Action Plan and the Vision to Focus 2022-2026.

The Live and Play Plan replaces the current Parks, Recreation and Cultural Assets Master Plan (PRCAMP) for recreational and cultural space needs. The current plan was approved in 2009.

Key Recommendations

It is important to note this plan only provides recommendations. It does not provide a plan, budget or timeline for implementation and does not impact culture boards. Key recommendations include:

• Revisiting the Sherwood Forest Park Revitalization Plan
• Re-imagining Central Park
• Urban parks and spaces
• Climate change mitigation and environmental sustainability
• Upgrading and new park washrooms
• Meeting emerging recreational needs like pickleball and cricket
• Creating flexible and adaptable spaces to meet a varying number of recreational needs

Public Consultation on the Live and Play Plan

Staff and consultants worked to engage with many sport user groups, cultural groups, community groups, community partners and individuals. The consultants also attended the Food for Feedback and Appleby Line Street Festival events.

Each group was contacted through their leadership team and were invited to complete an online survey and participate in group workshops.

The initial online survey and ability to provide feedback on draft plan recommendations were available for the community at different times throughout the planning process.

City staff and elected officials were also a part of the consultation process.

The draft recommendations for the Live and Play Plan are now ready for the community to review. Residents are asked to review the recommendations and provide feedback to let us know what you think.

The Live and Play Plan will guide recreational and cultural facility decisions over the next 20 to 30 years. The Live and Play Plan will ensure that Burlington continues to provide a range of healthy and active choices that engage all residents. It also ensures that the city grows as an environmentally sustainable, vibrant and economically strong community. There has been research and public consultation completed to develop this draft plan.

To create the draft recommendations, residents and community partners have been asked for feedback through an online survey, public meeting, and at Food for Feedback and the Appleby Line Street Festival.

The Live and Play Plan will replace the current Parks, Recreation and Cultural Assets Master Plan (PRCAMP) for recreational and cultural space needs. The current plan was approved in 2009.

Public input will be used to assist in finalizing the recommendations of the plan. Once complete, the plan will be brought to Council for endorsement in June. Over the summer staff will work on an implementation plan which will be brought to Council in the fall.

Staff will be presenting to Environment, Infrastructure and Community Services Committee Meeting on December 7, the Live and Play Background and information report along with the appendix.

The City of Burlington is preparing a Live and Play Plan to guide recreational and cultural facility decisions over the next 20 to 30 years. Through research and public consultation, the Live and Play Plan will ensure that Burlington continues to provide a range of healthy and active choices that engage all residents and ensures that the city grows as an environmentally sustainable, vibrant and economically strong community.

Residents are asked to provide input at in-person and online sessions and through a survey.

Resident input will help us better understand the parks, recreation and cultural facility priorities of the Burlington community.

The Live and Play Plan will replace the current Parks, Recreation and Cultural Assets Master Plan (PRCAMP) for recreational and cultural space needs. The current plan was approved in 2009.

Public Engagement Opportunities

Date: Sept. 16, 2023
Location: Food for Feedback, Central Park, 2299 New St.
Time: noon to 4 p.m.

Date: Sept. 24, 2023
Location: Appleby Line Street Festival, between Fairview Street and New Street
Time: 1 to 5 p.m.

Date: Sept. 27, 2023
Location: Online. To register,
Time: 7 to 9 p.m.

Anyone who cannot attend these sessions can go online to submit their ideas at getinvolvedburlington.ca/liveplayplan.

Background

The Live and Play Plan will not include major cultural venues such as the Burlington Performing Arts Centre, Burlington Public Library, Art Gallery of Burlington, trails and bikeways, joint ventures, Tyandaga Golf Course, LaSalle Pavilion, Paletta Mansion or regular updates for existing facilities (such as new roofing, heating/cooling, etc.).

The Plan will provide high-level strategic recommendations, service levels, etc. It will not provide details such as specific programming, building designs and park/playground designs.

The Plan will also provide costing, timing and prioritization of capital initiatives but will not provide a detailed funding plan. That will come later through the City’s financial processes (including the multi-year community investment plan).