Recreation Master Plan to cost over $75,000

Awarding the contract for the 10-year Parks, Recreation & Culture Master Plan was recommended to council. The matter was discussed during committee of the whole on Tuesday night.

The successful bidder, out of two interested firms, came in with a price of $74,985 excluding taxes. Monteith Brown Planning Consultants, based in London, Ontario, will undertake the work. 

Mayor Nancy Peckford noted that fee includes disbursements of just over $9,000 for travel expenses.

The Master Plan will include parks, trails, open space, facilities, cultural services and programs that address present and future needs of the municipality. The purpose is to identify municipal priorities, according to the report. 

Councillor John Barclay says once the report arrives, he doesn’t want to see it sit on a table. He noted council is going to have to make difficult decisions in terms of funding some of the recommendations. 

In 2013, the Municipality of North Grenville commissioned the Riverside Park Conceptual Plan. It outlined more than a dozen priorities for the park, including a pavilion, multi-use pathway looping the entire park, fixing the roads and parking, enhancing lighting, water play area and enhancements to the pool. The total cost of improvements outlined in the Conceptual Plan, available here, was $1.4 million. 

The Master Plan is scheduled to be complete by December. The final vote on awarding the contract is set for next week.