As increasing development pressures and population growth create greater demand for public parkland and water access opportunities, the Town of Bracebridge is weighing a number of options, from enhanced public waterfront access to parking passes for non-residents.
A new planning framework will be considered by General Committee on April 7, outlining how the municipality will evaluate, prioritize and enhance outdoor recreational spaces over time.
Bracebridge currently owns and operates 38 municipal parks located throughout both urban and rural areas, representing approximately 112 hectares of parkland.
The report recommends council adopt the Long-Term Parkland, Greenspace and Waterfront Development Planning Framework as a tool to guide future decision-making and investment.
As part of the initiative, council is also being asked to receive a Municipal Water Access Review Feasibility Study completed by Landscape Planning Ltd. The study examined municipally owned, undeveloped waterfront properties to determine their potential for future public access or parkland development.
The highest-ranked property identified in the study is located on Karin Crescent along Healey Lake. The municipally owned parcel is approximately 1.3 acres in size and features roughly 169 feet of shoreline frontage. Staff recommend undertaking a secondary review of the site to assess water safety considerations, risk management requirements and overall suitability for public use.
According to the report, the property’s relatively level terrain would require minimal grading to meet accessibility standards, and its natural beach-like shoreline could reduce construction costs by limiting the need for shoreline modifications.
Staff will also explore potential enhancements at existing waterfront locations, including Annie Williams Memorial Park, to assess opportunities for expanded recreational water access.
In response to council interest, staff further recommend studying the feasibility of a non-resident parking pass system at municipal waterfront parks, which could be considered through a future municipal budget process.
Don’t miss out on Doppler!Sign up here to receive our email digest with links to our most recent stories.
Local news in your inbox six times per week!
Click here to support local news
0 Comments