Oakville wants public’s feedback on new Parks Plan draft

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Published July 4, 2022 at 11:06 am

Oakville Town Council has approved the new Parks Plan 2031 along with the associated Parkland Dedication by-law. TOWN OF OAKVILLE PHOTO

Oakville is looking for residents to help them “reimagine” local parks to create a more livable future here.

The Town is asking the public to review and comment on its strategic document (draft Parks Plan – 2031) that provides a direction for new parkland throughout Oakville, particularly in urban centres and corridors.

Comments received by July 15, 2022 will be provided to Council in the August 9, 2022 report.

Residents can also provide feedback up until the Planning and Development Council meeting for adoption of the Plan and the Parkland Dedication By-law on September 6, 2022.

“Residents tell us that the most commonly stated qualities that make Oakville livable are our parks, our community centres and trails,” said Oakville Mayor Rob Burton. Creating and preserving park space is a priority for Council and we welcome feedback on the new draft Parks Plan.

“As the town grows with a variety of housing options for everyone, parks and greenspaces have to be reimagined and integrated with our living spaces to create a more livable future for Oakville.”

Over the next decade, Oakville will be seeing growth within urban centres identified as Strategic Growth Areas (SGAs). Parkland will be required to serve the needs of residents in urban centres such as Midtown, Uptown Core, Bronte and Palermo.

A newly created draft, Parks Plan -2031, will provide direction for the acquisition of new parkland throughout Oakville, and particularly in the SGA urban centres and corridors, with a unique range of urban parkland types such as urban squares, pocket parks, courtyards and pedestrian connections.

As part of the Parks Plan – 2031, a proposed new parkland dedication by-law will be presented to Council on August 9, 2022.

Municipalities are not allowed to use Development Charges (DCs) for the purchase of land for parks though provisions in the Planning Act enable municipalities to require land, or cash-in-lieu of land, from developers for parks as a condition of development through a parkland dedication by-law.

Once land is dedicated, or acquired by the Town, new parks are constructed using DCs or Community Benefits Charges (CBCs).

As Oakville grows it will require leisure space that has an array of park spaces with both green and hard design components and includes important connectivity elements such as public sidewalks and roads.

Park spaces in an urban setting require a unique range of  parkland types and sizes that can be integrated as part of a pedestrian network, and flexible enough to accommodate different users and events at different times of the day.

Residents can provide input through the online form as well as share their feedback by registering as a delegate to speak at the August 9 Council Meeting.

 

 

 

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