By: Pam Wright, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Chatham Voice
Chatham-Kent is taking the long view regarding the future of its municipal recreational facilities.
To that end, C-K council has approved the 2025 Parks and Recreation Master Plan (PRMP) – a document a couple of years in the making.
The decision was reached at the Dec. 15 meeting, following a presentation from Ian Clark, manager of parks, recreation and cemeteries.
Defined as a “strategic roadmap” to accommodate growth, PRMP 2025 forecasts $226.6 million in capital investment over the next 10 years. At its centre is the development of a multi-use recreational facility with a minimum of two ice pads and an indoor pool and gymnasium. Located on 32 hectares of property it would also be home to four sports fields, allowing space for tournaments and big events, as well as expansion.
Estimated cost of the multi-plex likely in the Chatham area is $166 million, with a completion date set for 2035.
Clark stressed the plan is needed to help secure provincial and federal funding for large projects.
“Senior government funding programs require projects to be well defined, costed and shovel ready,” Clark told council. “The feedback from residents is that they want us to take advantage of these programs.”
Currently, said Clark, municipal facilities have 149 active seasonal user groups making use of them, as well as many other organizations.
“We heard from them directly,” said Clark, noting the plan included extensive public engagement. Aging facilities, lack of accessibility and modern amenities, plus a “strong call” for more year-round facilities were among the takeaways gleaned from residents.
Naturalized spaces, improved trails and increased tree canopy are also on the public’s wish list.
“We’ve heard strong support for the master plan,” he told council.
Also, in the plan are upgrades to parklands throughout the municipality. Improvements are slated for Wallaceburg’s south side by way of a new waterfront park and greenway system along the Sydenham River ($4.5 million, to be completed by 2034); the final phase of the St. Clair College Community Park on Bear Line ($7.3 million, completion 2027); a new park in Wheatley’s downtown ($2.7 million, completion 2031) and a $17 million baseball complex in South Kent with a completion date of 2035.
Numerous upgrades are on tap for existing community parks in C-K’s smaller communities as well, the plan states. New vacant parcels will also be developed, as parks and trails will also be added.
According to Clark, the plan will see the divestment of aging arenas and the reduction of outdoor pools from seven to four. Improvements to existing arenas in Blenheim; Ridgetown; Dresden and Wheatley are included.
Clark said there’s been a steady decline in arena use since the last master plan, but that’s been on the rebound in the last two years. However he said there’s no data to indicate that will continue.
As part of the plan, council approved $1 million in funding from the New Arena Build Reserve and up to $1 million from the Parks Lifestyle Reserve to facilitate feasibility and design studies for capital projects. A project manager to spearhead the plan will be hired for $147,227 annually. Other identified costs will be referred to the 2027 budget update and to the 2028-31 multi-year budget.
Clark said future divestments and capital projects will come before council for approvals.
But while one councillor expressed concern over the cost of big-ticket items, others said delays make improvements more expensive.
South Kent Coun. Anthony Ceccacci said that during his time on council he’s often heard “we can’t afford to do this” when it comes to big projects.
“I think that what we have to recognize is there’s a cost to not doing things,” Ceccacci said. “Passing things along because we think it’s going to get better rarely has ever worked in the past.”
Mayor Darrin Canniff concurred.
“This is way overdue,” the mayor said. “We need to get moving on it. If we ever hope for a chance to get federal or provincial money, we have to have shovel-ready projects. That means investing to get it shovel ready.”
However, Chatham Coun. Alysson Storey expressed caution, stating that while she “truly loved” all the recommendations, she has “serious concerns.
“What we’re facing in our community right now is a real challenge on a lot of levels,” Storey said, adding she appreciates that individual projects will have to come back to council for approval. “I am just not certain at this time how we can go ahead with a lot of these. I want to make sure that we manage expectations for both ourselves and our residents and staff.”