March 11, 1998

To: Chair and Members, Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee

From: Joe Halstead, Functional Lead, Parks and Recreation

Subject: Parks and Recreation Division - Facility Planning Initiatives

This report is intended to address a process to undertake two major planning studies for the Parks and Recreation Division. The first is a feasibility study for the development of three major Parks and Recreation Facilities. The second is to undertake a facility rationalization study of existing facilities in the division.

The immediate cost of these studies are identified in the 1998 Capital Budget submission of the department. These studies are intended to ensure feasibility of new facilities slated for development and to look for operating budget efficiencies through rationalization of existing facilities which may be inappropriate, underutilized or in need of significant capital infusion.

It is recommended that:

(1) This report be received for the information of Committee and Council.

As part of the ABuilding Blocks@ report of the Parks and Recreation Service Review Team to the Transition Team, it was recommended that the new department undertake several planning related studies to address critical priorities in the allocation of capital resources for new facilities and also to examine the rationalization of existing facilities that may be inappropriate, underutilized or in need of significant capital infusion. The geographic boundaries of existing facilities in relation to the former municipal boundaries is another factor that will be examined within this study.

1. New Facility Feasibility Studies

Within the Capital submission of the department, there are two major facilities that were identified for new construction in 1999: the Lakeshore Multi-Use Facility in the Lakeshore-Queensway Ward and the St. Jamestown Multi-Use Facility in the Don River Ward. Further, we have been asked by the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee on the request of Councillor Rob Davis to report on the process for the completion of the Fairbank Park Recreation Centre Project within the former City of York.

It is clearly appropriate and has been the practice of many of the former municipalities to undertake comprehensive feasibility and planning studies prior to investing significant capital expenditures on construction of new facilities. These studies provide an overview of the current service characteristics, demographics, and local needs that should be addressed within the building program, identify capital and operating costs, partnering and external funding opportunities.

The Lakeshore Queensway Ward has several small facilities that serve this diverse community, and plans for a major facility have been in the works for several years. The property for this facility is located within the former Lakeshore Psychiatric Hospital Grounds and has been identified as an appropriate site to develop a multi-use facility. The Metropolitan Separate School Board (MSSB) has been identified as an appropriate partner and is interested in further discussions. No formal feasibility projections of capital or operating funds have been initiated.

The St. Jamestown multi-use facility is proposed for a piece of property across from Wellesley Hospital within the St. Jamestown community. The property is slated for purchase by the City of Toronto. Initial feasibility projections of capital and operating costs have been identified in previous planning studies, but a comprehensive study to review each component and to embark on a further public consultation process is required and presently underway.

The Fairbank Park facility has had a significant amount of history associated with it. Phase one of the project was completed in 1990. Facility needs in the area have been previously identified in the City of York Parks and Recreation Master Plan and a User Needs Study completed in 1990, but these studies will require updating, new public consultation sessions, and significant refinement in order to develop detailed capital requirements and projected operating costs.

All three of these locations are considered high need areas of the City which are characterized by lower than average incomes, higher degrees of dependancy on the social service system, single parent families and higher transient/ immigrant populations.

As part of the terms of reference for these studies, it will be recommended that the local Councillor form part of a small steering committee to work with staff in the study process. The timeline of these studies will enable completion prior to the submission of the 1999 Capital Budget.

2. Facility Rationalization Study

The over 800 parks and recreational buildings operated by the department vary in size and scope from local park service buildings to state of the art multi purpose facilities. As part of the amalgamation process, there may be opportunities for rationalization of some existing facilities within the current stock of buildings. These opportunities may be created where there are facilities located adjacent to former municipal boundaries, facilities that are not operating to capacity, or performing well below budget targets, or where an aging facility requires significant capital infusion in order to bring it up to current codes and standards. Other factors will have to be considered since it is obvious that some changes in our stock of facilities will have to occur if the division is to meet service responsibilities and budget pressures over the coming years.

We are proposing that an extensive rationalization study take place over the next six months. The work would be coordinated by a steering committee of senior staff in the division, undertaken by Division staff supported by an external consultant with specific expertise. We feel strongly that an external perspective is necessary to get a fully objective view of the current status of our facilities while much of the information gathering and initial analysis can and should be conducted by existing staff. Detailed terms of reference will have to be prepared for this exercise prior to going to the market for external support.

We believe that this is a responsible approach to the planning process in that the outcomes will give detailed information to base future capital and operating budget projections and allow Council to make appropriate decisions on the allocation of increasingly scarce resources. Both of these studies will include a public consultation process, and steering committees consisting of local Councillors and staff from both Parks and Recreation and other appropriate departments.

John A. Macintyre, Etobicoke Office

Phone 394 8529

Fax 394 8935

Joe Halstead Shirley Hoy

Functional Lead Commissioner

Parks and Recreation Community and Neighbourhood Services