Oakville asks southeast Ward 1 residents what they want from parks

Residents of southeast Ward 1, south of the QEW down to Lake Ontario between Bronte Road and Third Line, are being asked how they use their parks and what they'd like added. The Town of Oakville says its online survey is scheduled to run from Monday, Nov. 9, to Friday, Nov. 27.

The survey is the first phase of the Ward 1 Southeast Campus of Parks Study, a review meant to guide future planning of parks, trails and open spaces in the area. It asks residents and park users how they use the parks now, what they value most, and what changes or additions would make those spaces more welcoming, accessible and enjoyable. The Town says the survey can be completed through the study's page on its website, which will also carry details on upcoming public meetings.

Instead of looking at one park at a time, the study treats the area's community parks, neighbourhood parks, small parkettes, trails and open spaces as a single connected "campus of parks," asking how they serve the neighbourhood together. The aim is to sort out what's working, look for places where service may fall short, and explore what could be improved.

What comes out of it is meant to be a set of recommendations to make the parks better connected, more accessible and better for recreation, and to raise the overall level of service in the area. One stated objective is to keep enough open parkland to meet growing demand. The plan is also meant to fit with and support Oakville's 2024 Parks, Recreation and Library Master Plan, which sets the town-wide direction for those services.

Recommendations won't automatically mean new paths or playgrounds. Any of them may need approval through the capital budget process, the part of the Town's budget that pays for building and major upgrades, before work goes ahead.

After the survey, two public meetings are tentatively planned for 2027, with details to be posted on the study page once confirmed.