Recreation, Parks and Culture Master Plan - Town of Ajax

Recreation, Parks & Culture Facilities
Since indoor artificial turf centres are generally not yet a standard
level of service for many municipalities, it is recommended that
the Town explore the possibility of providing indoor turf as well as
the municipality’s potential role in capital funding and operations.
This will require a business planning exercise prior to the design of
the facility to confirm municipal role in delivering indoor turf,
ensure that future demand is sufficient to support municipal
investment, solicit potential partners and offer a funding strategy.
Indoor turf centres are not only beneficial for indoor soccer
programs but also can provide a venue for other activities such as
football, lacrosse, lawn bowling, etc. Potential locations for such a
facility could include the proposed multi‐use community centre or
repurposing an appropriate existing municipal facility; the
business planning exercise should confirm a location for this
venue.
strategic directions to strengthen the role that arts, culture and
heritage plays in enhancing the local quality of life.
A key to advancing the objectives of the ICACP is to continue to
work with, and assisting to build the capacity of, local arts and
cultural groups in order to maximize the facilities and services
which presently exist and which may be created in the future.
The creation of a funding strategy is recommended to support the
development of arts and cultural programs, events and the
acquisition of public art. Such an initiative would be of great
benefit in developing and expanding the creative infrastructure of
Ajax.
Action Plans:
The Town should undertake a business planning and
feasibility study prior to the design of the new multi‐use
community centre to determine whether municipal
investment in indoor turf at the new facility is justifiable
from a demand, financing and operating perspective. Site
selection criteria should consider Sportsplex Park (and
any other appropriate sites) as possible venues for
development.
3.3 Arts, Culture & Heritage
Arts & Cultural Policies
The Town of Ajax Official Plan, Corporate Strategic Plan, the
Integrated Community Arts and Cultural Plan (ICACP) and the
Pickering Village Urban Design & Heritage Study are the primary
corporate documents guiding the provision of arts and culture in
Ajax. These documents provide the Town with the authority and
The ICACP and Corporate Strategic Plan also identify a need to
strengthen and incorporate public art, largely through the land
development process. This would ideally involve the drafting of a
Public Art Policy which would contain provisions for public art and
mandate contributions for applications falling under Section 37 of
the Planning Act (increased height or density); such an initiative
should also be supported by other funding mechanisms including
(but not limited to) the creation of a public art reserve, a
framework for soliciting resources from community‐based
partners, etc.
MONTEITH BROWN PLANNING CONSULTANTS in association with Tucker‐Reid & Associates & The JF Group
April 2008
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