At the November 22nd Council in Committee meeting, the final version of the Athletic Park Redevelopment Plan was accepted by Council which included updated costing for the four-phase project. The redevelopment plan provides a detailed framework for future improvements to Athletic Park, which include:

Phase 1 – Central trail improvements, peripheral trail loop, outdoor fitness stations and an enlarged soccer field (natural grass turf) – $1,686,000

Phase 2 – Multi-purpose building, splash pad/skating rink, relocated beach volleyball court, enlarged multi-sports courts, improved tennis courts, and table tennis – $6,150,000

Phase 3 – Six new pickleball courts, and extended parking lot, adding 66 new spaces – $1,408,000

Phase 4 – Skating loop, amphitheatre seating, multi-use performance space, and resized baseball field – $2,440,000

The total cost for all four phases is $11,684,000 plus HST.

One of the more exciting aspects of the redevelopment project is the shift in focus from “Athletic Park” to a “Community Park”. This is a deliberate and planned approach, as the park design will serve as a draw to the community at large with its central location and being adjacent to the New Maryland Elementary School. The redeveloped “Community Park” would also serve a large population of residents and non-residents that do not currently use the park, as the proposed elements are not only inclusive but also lend themselves to a more “drop-in” unstructured park usage.

Senior staff were directed by Council to explore funding opportunities to move this exciting project forward. On behalf of Council, senior staff, and the project consultants, we thank the public for their input and contributions over the past two years. Stay tuned to our website and social media for future updates. Questions? Comments? Please reach out to our Recreation Coordinator, Michelle Sawler at michelle.sawler@vonm.ca.

The Athletic Park Project Plan can be seen in full here.

About the Project

NEW   At the June 15th Council in Committee meeting, our project consultants, UPLAND Planning and Design, made a presentation to Council regarding the final Draft Redevelopment Plan for Athletic Park improvements, which included phasing and costing. A detailed draft redevelopment plan document has also been submitted to Council for their review and consideration.  The redevelopment plan provides the framework for future improvements.  Stay tuned for additional updates as they are available.

At the February 22nd Council in Committee meeting, UPLAND presented the Draft Athletic Park Redevelopment Plan for Council’s approval.  This draft plan identifies four phases of infrastructure improvements and upgrades to Athletic Park, including several new amenities. Council expressed their full support for the draft plan and the next steps will be to provide additional details including costing and a recommended timeline for the facility improvements. Once this information is completed, Council will seek additional public input and feedback before final approval of the project plan.

 

The Village of New Maryland is working on a Redevelopment Plan for Athletic Park.

The Athletic Park is located between the New Maryland Elementary School and the Centennial Gardens

neighbourhood. It is the central sports and field facility for organized and leisure activities in New Maryland. The Athletic Park currently hosts two ball fields, a batters cage, one soccer field, two tennis courts, two basketball courts, a beach volleyball court, and outdoor rinks during the winter months.

Recreation plays an essential role in fostering safe, inclusive, and livable communities. The Village of New Maryland recognizes this, and is taking the opportunity to increase recreation participation and embrace its athletic potential. This Redevelopment Plan will provide a framework to manage recreation facilities and services in Athletic Park over the next three to five years, while also helping to plan for future outdoor recreation.

The project will aim to:

  • understand the community’s recreation needs, both currently and in the future;
  • plan for recreation services over the long-term;
  • accommodate a variety of user groups and activities at the Athletic Park;
  • explore opportunities for building capacity and partnerships across sectors and community boundaries;
  • recommend options for the redevelopment of the unused or underutilized park property; and
  • provide recommendations and budget information for future development opportunities.

Please also see the Background Report prepared by the project consultant UPLAND Planning + Design to read the full study about the Athletic Park Redevelopment Plan and its Background: Background Report

On December 14th, the project consultants presented the “What we Heard” report as well as recommendations for future park improvements. A copy of the report is HERE and will also be shared on our social media. The next step in this exciting project will be a draft plan of the proposed park amenities/improvements, as well as costing and a timeline for improvements. This next phase should be completed early in 2023. Stay tuned to our web site and social media for additional updates, or contact our Recreation Coordinator, Michelle Sawler (michelle.sawler@vonm.ca) if you have any questions or feedback you’d like to share about this project.

Contact

Get in touch! If you have any questions, comments, or feedback, you can contact the project team.

Email: consultation@uplandstudio.ca

Phone: 902-423-0649