Item - 2019.EX9.5

The Executive Committee recommends that:

1.  City Council adopt the Implementation Strategy for the Parks and Recreation Facilities Master Plan 2019-2038 as set out in Appendix A to the report (October 8, 2019) from the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation.

2.  City Council direct the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to work with the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer on a funding strategy to implement the Parks and Recreation Facility Master Plan 2019-2038 over the 20 year period.

3.  City Council direct the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to submit the additional funding requirements associated with the implementation of the "Parks and Recreation Facilities Master Plan 2019-2038" including state of good repair backlog for consideration as part of the 2020 Budget process.  

4.  City Council direct the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to present the Implementation Strategy for the Parks and Recreation Facilities Master Plan 2019-2038 to relevant stakeholders, including the school boards, and to discuss partnership opportunities to advance both the City and school boards capital and programming priorities.  

5.  City Council direct the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to use the Implementation Strategy for the Parks and Recreation Facilities Master Plan 2019-2038 to inform funding, partnerships and inter-governmental discussions in order to advance the priorities set out in the Parks and Recreation Facilities Master Plan 2019-2038 Implementation Strategy.

6.  City Council direct the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to use the Implementation Strategy to inform the development of the City's Community Benefit Strategy and subsequently, the Community Benefit Charge by-law.

7.  City Council direct the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, to monitor and assess trends and participation in curling including considering the capacity of existing private and public curling facilities, opportunities to make interest in curling broader and more inclusive and to consult with relevant stakeholders on potential opportunities and report back in the fourth quarter of 2020.

8.  City Council direct the General Manger, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to include any revised population projections provided by City Planning in their analysis of facilities to be funded through both the Facilities Master Plan and the Community Benefits Charge.

9.  City Council direct the General Manger, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to advance a recreation facilities assessment for the North Yonge Secondary Plan area, including facilities to be incorporated in the future park secured near Drewry and Yonge Street and integrate any required facilities in both the Facilities Master Plan Implementation Strategy and the future Community Benefits Charge Strategy in consultation with the local Councillor.

10.  City Council request the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, to advance discussions to extend the existing Main Square Community Recreation Centre lease in an effort to ensure recreation service continuity for the Main Square community for a period as required.

 11.  City Council request the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to develop a facility plan to ensure the Main Square Community Recreation Centre's continuation, through either future revitalization of the existing facility or new facilities to accommodate the growth expected through the forthcoming Main Street Planning Study and report on capital needs to support the plan as required in future years' Capital Plans.

12.  City Council request the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to consider opportunities to utilize the Sir Robert L. Borden site for recreation programming within the Facilities Master Plan including their Sport Field Strategy and Sports Bubble Strategy components

13.  City Council request the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to review the dogs off-leash policy, applying international best practices, and report back in 2020.

The Parks and Recreation Facilities Master Plan 2019-2038 was adopted by City Council in November 2017 and is the first strategic plan to guide Parks, Forestry and Recreation's city-wide planning and investment in a range of parks and recreation assets including: community recreation centres, aquatic and ice facilities, sports fields and courts, splash pads and a number of other facilities. The Parks and Recreation Facilities Master Plan directs investment for both maintaining existing facilities and the provision of new facilities over the next 20 years.

Since its approval by Council, the Parks and Recreation Facilities Master Plan has guided capital and facility planning, design and construction, as well as supported area studies, major development applications and policy development.

This report recommends the approval of the Implementation Strategy for the Parks and Recreation Facilities Master Plan 2019-2038, found in Appendix A. 

The Implementation Strategy for the Parks and Recreation Facilities Master Plan 2019-2038 provides an evidence-based, decision-making framework to address gaps in provision, align facility development with growth, pursue facility repurposing opportunities, invest strategically, and advance policy and partnerships across the city over the next 20 year period. It offers an equitable and consistent framework for identifying where, how and when to invest in parks and recreation facilities.    
 
The Parks and Recreation Facilities Master Plan Implementation Strategy is supported by four guiding principles - quality, innovation, sustainability, and equity and is guided by three strategic goals:
 

- Renew and upgrade existing facilities;
- Address gaps and growth-related needs; and
- Work with other partners to explore new opportunities to provide facilities.
 

The Parks and Recreation Facilities Master Plan Implementation Strategy focuses equally on the importance of investing in both the state-of-good-repair for existing facilities, and provision of new and enhanced facilities and proposes to:

- Eliminate the state-of-good-repair backlog and proactively plan for state-of-good-repair improvement by:

- Increasing Parks, Forestry and Recreation's annual state-of-good-repair investment to proactively address the backlog and meet industry standards, helping to ensure existing parks and recreation facilities continue to serve the city for generations;

- Focusing on facilities that have traditionally been underfunded. Historically, state-of-good-repair funding has been focused on larger facilities rather than smaller, community-based facilities like sports courts. This has impacted consistency and created gaps in service delivery;

- Creating a dedicated team focused on asset management and addressing state-of-good-repair. Building a dedicated staff team within Parks, Forestry and Recreation focusing on state-of-good-repair strategies and assessments, along with advancing state-of-good-repair projects will both fast track implementation and build an enhanced internal expertise and project efficiencies; and

- Advancing the prioritization methodology for capital facility renewal projects, informed by condition audits and inspections. Capital investments are directed to higher risk aging assets and urgent projects first, reducing, where budget is available, the possibility of system failure.

 
- Construct 17 new community recreation centres to address growth, respond to increasing demand and provide more equitable service in communities across the city;

- Revitalize and/or replace 11 existing community recreation centres while maximizing current land and resources, and making good use of financial resources;

- Maintain current provision levels and address geographic gaps for indoor pools, splash pads, soccer and multi-use fields, cricket pitches and bike parks;

- Increase provision levels for basketball courts, skateparks and sports bubbles; and
Maintain existing facilities in all other areas.
 
Advancing the Parks and Recreation Facilities Master Plan 2019-2038 Implementation Strategy will result in additional and improved parks and recreation facilities that address the needs of future growth, historically underserved areas, and respond to changing parks and recreation trends.

Recommendations in the Parks and Recreation Facilities Master Plan 2019-2038 were established based on currently available research and information. Many things can change over the course of 20 years, including demographics, growth, facility conditions, partnership opportunities, recreation trends and the availability of funding. In order to ensure that facilities are responsive to change, prior to initiating the design of any major new or revitalized parks and recreation facility, a local planning review will be undertaken to confirm factors such as population growth, land opportunities, trends in demand for and availability of recreation services, and design standards.

The financial strategy for the Parks and Recreation Facilities Master Plan 2019-2038 was based on Parks, Forestry and Recreation's current funding sources, namely the growth funding tools, which include Development Charges, Section 42 and Section 37 of the Planning Act, and debt which funds all state-of-good-repair requirements.  

Growth-related projects are currently funded through revenue from Sections 37 and 42 of the Planning Act and Development Charges, which represent approximately 56 percent of Parks, Forestry and Recreation's 10-year Capital Plan. Based on the 2019-2028 Capital Budget and Plan it is estimated that there is sufficient funding for new and enhanced facilities over the 10 year period if current funding levels are maintained. The 2019-2028 Council-approved Capital Plan for Parks, Forestry and Recreation currently includes "Parks and Recreation Facilities Master Plan 2019-2038 placeholders" for new and enhanced parks and recreation facilities, without referencing the specific name or Ward, District or Citywide location. This report provides the detail and timing for each of the parks and recreation facilities recommended in the Parks and Recreation Facilities Master Plan 2019-2038.

With the passage of the More Homes, More Choice Act, 2019 (Bill 108), Section 42, Section 37 and the "soft infrastructure" elements of the Development Charges By-law,  will be replaced with a new single source of funding, the Community Benefits Charge.  The Parks and Recreation Facilities Master Plan 2019-2038 Implementation Strategy will be dependent on the City developing and implementing a Community Benefits Charge strategy and enabling bylaw. The financial impacts of transitioning to the Community Benefits Charge will not be fully understood until the provincial regulations setting out the details of the Community Benefits Charge formula are finalized and subsequently evaluated by the City. The Province of Ontario has committed to maintaining municipal revenues through the proposed changes under Bill 108. Parks, Forestry and Recreation will report out on any funding changes that may impact on the 2019-2028 Capital Plan as a result of the new funding sources, as part of the City's annual capital budget planning process.

State-of-good-repair is funded through debt. Addressing the state-of-good-repair backlog for existing Parks and Recreation Facilities Master Plan 2019-2038 in-scope facilities will require the City to consider an additional investment of $469.6 million over a 20-year period, or $234.8 million over the upcoming 2020-2029 Capital Plan (an additional $23.5 million per year), which will likely need to be phased in. This magnitude of investment is required as facilities continue to be in a state of disrepair. The inability to fund state-of-good-repair has led to increased equipment failure causing service interruptions, unplanned closures and cancelled programs.
 

The Parks and Recreation Facilities Master Plan 2019-2038 Implementation Strategy will also serve as a framework to respond to external funding opportunities, such as grants and donations, from partnerships, public agencies, non-profits, or other orders of government.
 

Apart from external funding, projects included in the Parks and Recreation Facilities Master Plan 2019-2038 Implementation Strategy may be accelerated or deferred for other reasons, such as availability of land and resources.  The 10-year Capital Plan for Parks, Forestry and Recreation is updated every year and will offer the opportunity to reflect these changes.  
 

Parks, Forestry and Recreation will report back to City Council in 2024 with an update on the first five years of implementation of the Parks and Recreation Facilities Master Plan 2019-2038.