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The Parks and Recreation Master Plan is a strategic process that studies the existing parks and recreation facilities, recreation programming, and identifies a plan to improve the City of Pembroke’s parks, facilities, and recreational services for the future.
Your input is valued and is an extremely important part of this process as it will contribute to strategies and recommendations that will improve recreation services, which will ultimately enhance the overall community experience for its residents and visitors in the future.
The Parks and Recreation Master Plan (PRMP) will guide the City of Pembroke for the 10-year horizon. This framework will help staff and Council as they make decisions that best represent the needs of the community, while balancing financial and staff resources.
The goal is to solidify a vision for parks and recreational services, including:
- Accessibility and inclusion
- Park, trails and facility enhancements
- Community engagement and communications
- Recreational programming and events
- Maintenance and management
Approach
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This project was implemented in three phases:
Phase 1: Assessment / Background Report (August – December 2023)
In this phase, the consulting team reviewed relevant documents, researched trends in the recreational sector, and engaged the community through one-on-one interviews with key stakeholders, focus group sessions, and a community survey. The goal was to capture current processes and practices, understand community interests and needs, and assess external influences. This phase concluded with the completion of a Background Report, which was presented to Council in late 2023.
Phase 2: Draft Recommendations (January – April 2024)
During this phase, the consulting team developed a series of draft recommendations based on the information gathered in Phase 1. This included analysis, the development of recommendations, alignment with corporate and community priorities, a framework for implementation, and a draft financial strategy to support the Plan. The community was given the opportunity to provide input through key stakeholder engagement and focus group sessions. This phase concluded with the presentation of draft recommendations to Council in spring 2024.
Phase 3: Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Master Plan (May – August 2024)
The project concluded with the development of a full Parks and Recreation Master Plan. The final plan reflected the feedback collected during Phase 2 and included additional opportunities for public review and comment to ensure it accurately represented community priorities. The final plan was presented to Council in Fall 2024 for adoption.
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Community Engagement
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Community engagement is the cornerstone of a good parks and recreation plan; this process acknowledges that community is not merely a passive recipient, but rather an active participant in shaping strategic goals and service delivery.
One on One Stakeholder Interviews
One on one stakeholder interviews were held to allow for depth and breadth of understanding regarding: current recreation services; strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT analysis); and local priorities and needs. Information also contributed to the development of a vision and mission statement. Interviews were conducted in person and by video calls between September 13 and December 15, 2023. A total of 15 interviews were completed.
Focus Group Sessions
Focus Group Sessions were hosted through fall 2023. Several were hosted at the Pembroke Memorial Centre, Active 50+ Centre, Fellowes and Bishop High School, and Algonquin College Campus. Key audiences included seniors, youth, and user groups such as community organizations. Sessions ranged from 40 minutes to two hours in length. K.A. Community Consulting and Leisure Innovations facilitated the sessions and engaged participants in learning conversations about themes such as SWOT, trends, needs, and priorities.
Community Survey
A comprehensive Community Survey was prepared to ensure residents and others that rely on Pembroke’s parks and recreation services had the opportunity to provide their insight and feedback as part of the planning process. The survey was launched on September 25 and was open until November 17. It was available online as well as via paper copy. A total of 908 responses were received, mainly through the online portal.
Open House
In June 2024, preliminary recommendations were presented at an Open House. This event, hosted at the Pembroke College Waterfront Campus, allowed guests to review suggested strategic directions and actions that support these goals. Close to 50 participants attended and provided feedback. This information is used to help refine the goals and recommendations included in the Parks and Recreation Master Plan.
Site Assessments
An assessment of Pembroke’s parks and recreation facilities was conducted in late August. The purpose was to gather information about the existing condition of parks and indoor recreation facilities. This information will inform and prioritize recommendations.
We would like to thank everyone for their participation in building the Parks & Recreation Master Plan.
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The plan outlines 73 key recommendations, grouped into four focus areas:
To learn more about these recommendations, access the full Parks & Recreation Master Plan.
These recommendations serve as building blocks to help us achieve our 5 Big Moves—the guiding priorities shaping our vision for the future:
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Create a Recreation Destination
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Invest in Staffing Capacities to Deliver Quality Recreation Services
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Deliver Strong Programs and Services
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Manage Assets with a Long-Term Lens
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Become Leaders in Environmental Stewardship and Climate Adaptation
As we implement this plan, each step brings us closer to a more vibrant, resilient, and inclusive recreation future in the City of Pembroke.
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