Notes from Workshop #1
Natural Environment, Parks and Recreation
February 26, 2009
Facilitator: Bill Zebedee
Present: 2 CLG members; 6 residents; 4 HRM staff
Process:
- Bill Zebedee welcomed participants, provided an overview of the visioning process and the workshop objectives. Participants introduced themselves
- Participants were divided into two groups to discuss the key items identified in the community survey under the general themes of lakes, recreation, parks and forested areas. HRM staff circulated among the two groups answering questions.
- Key ideas that emerged from the two groups were recorded. (A more detailed action plan template has also been compiled)
Key Ideas by Theme:
Parks |
- Upgrading of present/existing neighbourhood parks
- More user friendly parks and multi-purpose; different levels of activity
- Gaston Rd. park not welcoming – lighting needed
- Portland St. park – forested
- Shortcuts to schools need to be aintained/formalized
- Conduct an audit of all parks (see map & inventory of parks)
- Designate an off-leash area
- Opportunities for soccer fields
|
Lakes |
- Audit of lakes (needs/wants)
- Community stewardship
- Pathways around lakes
- Access to Lakes Penhorn, Maynard Oathill)
- Clear markings & established paths needed to prevent/avoid conflict over “rights” to (public) access for recreation etc.
- Better lighting around lakes especially Maynard
- Hot chocolate stand
- Public education – use of fertilizer & pesticides and its impact on water quality
- Better seating
- Erosion of paths & ice build up
- Make the lake more accessible (visually) from Penhorn mall
- Make paths & lakefront visually appealing
- Maintain paths better
- Provide wind breaks
- Parking
- Waterslide, Fountain
- Lake clean up (Remove carts from lakes, Institute shopping cards with locked wheels)
- Garbage receptacles
- Pet waste
- Fertilizer control
- Litter
- Recreation by-products
- Yellow Fish Program
- Education on pesticide and fertilizer use
|
Forested Areas & Wetlands |
- Identify/survey species in forested areas & wetlands
- Identify hydrological systems (flow directions)
- Identify pollutants
- Pedway from Russell Lake to wetland on other side
|
Recreation |
- Skateboard park
- Skateboard rink
- Recreation center
- Value and viability of existing schools and churches for recreation
- Connections across Hwy 111
|
Action Planning:
1. What can the community do?
- Recognize youth
- Recognize (?) the activity
- Fundraise
- Youth get together
- Partnership with schools
- Engage on issue
- Organize an outdoor rink
- Fundraise
- Partnership with schools
- Conduct an audit of all parks (see map & inventory of parks)
- Create a strong neighbourhood association
- Partnership with upcoming Woodside Visioning group & trail groups
- Phone/Become involved
- Fundraise
- Raise awareness of needs
- Discuss and establish wishes for regulation of off-leash areas
- State value of schools and churches to continued viability of community in the vision statement
- Insist on green areas in future development
- Quality of open areas essential
- Mark street drains (ie yellow Fish program)
- Moderate behaviour (i.e. use of fertilizers)
- Create education around Pet waste, Fertilizer control, Litter, Recreation by-products
- Concept of “stewardship” is key to conservation & enhancement of parks/lakes/forested areas.
- Rationalize inter-community links
- Raise awareness about access to lakes
- Use it or lose it
- Lobby
- Organize local events, festivals, clean ups
- BBQ
- Street parties
- A group for each lake
2. Who else can help us?
- HRM Parks division
- Budget process
- Citizens / Community members
- Dartmouth Lake Advisory Board
- Developers
- Fish & Game Associations
- Groups with vested interest (Clean NS, Scouts, Manor Park Association, environmental groups)
- Hockey Association
- HRM
- HRM Communications Services & Marketing
- HRM Recreation (use of lakes etc)
- Local groups
- Local politicians (all levels)
- Private donations
- Promote parks & walking trails (e.g. brochures)
- Province
- Russell Lake Trail Association
- School groups
- Skaters
- Tree Canada
- Trout Unlimited
- Web site (Parks/routes mapped out)
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