Council looks to redevelop Goulard Park
Third time's a charm on long delayed plans to enhance green space.
Last week council gave the go ahead for staff to create a costing plan to redevelop Goulard Park in Sturgeon Falls.
If this feels like dejavu to some local residents, it’s because this project first came to council nearly ten years ago. In 2015 West Nipissing had grand plans to redevelop the area at the centre of town.
As council heard last week, in 2016 the city hired a consultant to create an extensive proposal for the park. One prior member of council told me that the initial plan of the day was estimated to cost in excess of $10 million. The plan included beach volleyball courts, soccer fields, baseball diamonds, playgrounds, a skateboard park, and walking trails.
Council then directed staff to hire a second consultant to create a scaled down plan. The city also hosted a number of public consultations on the issue. However after that, there does not appear to be any further discussion at council between 2016 and now.
A prior council member told me that the final plans taking into account the public’s comments were never presented back to council. It’s not clear why this project was shelved for eight years after there seemed to be a lot of public excitement, however the costs might have been a factor.
But at their last meeting, the newly formed Recreation and Culture Advisory Committee identified the Goulard Park Redevelopment Project as its top priority.
Committee chair, Kris Rivard told council that the recommendation is to move forward with the first phase of this significant project. He proposed that council authorize phase 1 of this project which includes renovations to the baseball fields, lighted walking trails around the park, additional parking, a new playground and basketball courts.
Councillor Roch St-Louis was in favour of proceeding with the project while commenting that “taxpayers dollars have already gone into this”.
When discussing how council would fund this project, Councillor Kris Rivard proposed that the city apply for a grant with the Toronto Blue Jays “Field of Dreams” program which helps communities pay for new baseball diamonds. The program is open to 3000+ municipalities in Canada and gives out about $1M per year.
Rivard also suggested that council consider selling off municipal assets to fund this project. He pointed out that if the city could put two baseball fields at Goulard, then they could dispose of the lands on Leblanc road. He opined that the 7 acres there could possibly bring in half a million. Rivard also suggested relocating the playground on Leblanc road to Goulard Park to save as well.
After a lengthy discussion council agreed with the committee’s recommendation and authorized staff to move forward on a costing plan.
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what about the people using that baseball field and that play ground in that area. I thought there was practices and games at that field
Yet Verner residence water and homeless humans make way for homes for flowers and new water to sustain. Once again leadership without confidence and leadership of incompetence will nor receive our support. Better qualified leaders are found in the examples not the elections. Follow better and remember fixing you fixes everything. Good luck out there.