Project Value: $132,000 Reference: Fred Galloway, Project Lead ● 519.661.8668
Description of Project and Lessons Learned
GSP Group and Tracey McQueen worked with a multi-disciplinary team to prepare Sarnia’s Master Plan for Parks, Recreation and Culture. Our areas of focus included parks and outdoor recreation facilities involving over 100 parks and 400 hectares of parkland with waterfront and public beach areas, sports fields, trails, playgrounds, splash pads, skateparks, natural areas and other amenities. To assess the current state of park assets, our landscape architecture, planning, and design team completed site inventories of each park including air photo maps and photographs, detailed GIS mapping of park and outdoor recreation facilities, and evaluate the condition of existing parks and facilities using a standardized rating system.
Asset management data was reviewed, and City staff, park user groups and the public were consulted to get a complete picture of current conditions and areas for improvement. The Master Plan provides recommendations and strategies for parks and outdoor recreation facilities planning, design, operations, and programming.
A parkland acquisition and classification framework will identify current and target provision levels, parkland dedication policies and approaches for waterfront and natural areas acquisition and protection. Park design, development and rehabilitation recommendations include procedures for parks and outdoor recreation facilities projects along with photographic examples illustrating emerging design and development trends and innovations. Directions for future initiatives including an urban forest management plan, level of service guidelines, parks inventory / asset management database and an audit of the City’s horticultural and parks operational facilities are also recommended.
Action items and future investments are identified for all City parks and outdoor recreation facilities provided, and to continue to develop and enhance the network of trails and planning for a complete trails and active transportation system
