Amherstburg’s parks and recreation advisory committee received some follow-up on the parks master plan (PMP) and the public input that has gone into it.
The parks and recreation committee heard an update on the PMP and feedback on the July 29 “parks summit” that was held at the Libro Centre.
The “parks summit” allowed people to circulate in the main ice pad of the arena and comment on plans for the entire parks system in Amherstburg. It is part of an update to the PMP.
Annette Zahaluk, the town’s manager of parks and naturalized areas, said the consultant helping to update the PMP will be meeting with the committee to discuss their ideas. The firm will also be visiting user groups and other town committees, she stated.
The summit did not produce the attendance that administration wanted, Zahaluk indicated.
“It was a little light on attendance, rather than what we were expecting for the amount of work that went into it,” said Zahaluk. “We understand that it was in the summertime and everyone was busy and maybe went away. We appreciate the people that were there.”
A total of 62 people signed in, four filled out a survey and five filled out comment sheets. There were also 71 people who filled out an online survey on the Talk the Burg website.
Zahaluk said Councillor Molly Allaire, who is also on the parks and rec committee, wanted a specific question asked about fencing at Malden Centre Park. There were two people who wanted the fencing kept and 17 respondents wanted it removed.
The comments that were left, including those on post-it notes, are being compiled into a report, Zahaluk stated.
The summit was a good way to see where the parks are, what has been done and what future plans are, she added.
Councillor Peter Courtney wanted to know about master plans for H. Murray Smith Centennial Park and Jack Purdie Park, with Zahaluk stating what was already approved by council was presented. Courtney was relieved by that, indicating he didn’t want to “rehash” what was a lengthy process.
Regarding Malden Centre Park fencing, Courtney recalled being told that it would work but he didn’t believe that it did.
“You can’t run any tournaments there,” he said. “They put those fences in and it’s nothing but Little League baseball. It’s taken away the capability of adult baseball there at all.”
The fact two people wanted to keep the fences was “disappointing” as Courtney didn’t believe they had the full picture of what he said is happening. He called it “a colossal waste of time and energy” and “I knew the math wasn’t there” for fencing.
Drainage issues that were worked on at the time were beneficial but the fencing has been a problem, according to Courtney, who hoped the fencing could be re-purposed in other areas.
Some user groups wanted the fence, Zahaluk said, recalling e-mails that were sent to town administration.
“Having said that, this took quite a process to get everyone on the same page and get the fencing removed,” she said.
Committee member Wes Ewer said adult women play at the park but doubted adult co-ed and adult men’s leagues could play at Malden Centre Park.
Ewer asked whether another open house could be held at the Libro Centre, suggesting it during hockey season when more people are flowing through the building. Zahaluk said that is possible.
“We kept everything that went up that time. We want to do it again,” she said.
Two concepts for H. Murray Smith Centennial Park were presented, said committee member Tony Pietrangelo, who noted one has a track and another doesn’t. Zahaluk said an outstanding issue is raising money for the track with Courtney adding he made a motion for third party sponsorship and fundraising to raise money for a track.
Attempts have been made, he added, but the option for a track was whether money could be raised for it. Otherwise, the park would be for more “passive” uses, he indicated.
Many new schools are not getting tracks, Courtney added.
North Star High School is immediately south of the park, built on land that used to be part of the park.
Pietrangelo had questions regarding the Libro Centre, such as the location of the location of the light standards at the football/soccer turf field.
Light standards are wrapped with padding, Zahaluk said.
Parks committee gets update on recent "parks summit"
By Ron Giofu
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