OLDS – The Town of Olds will be the managing partner in a $200,000 grant application for the 2020 Parks, Recreation and Culture Master Plan under the inter-municipal collaboration component of the Alberta Community Partnership.
The decision to enter into the arrangement came by way of motion at a recent regularly scheduled council meeting.
Once developed the plan will serve as a guide, helping municipalities and community leaders alike make informed decisions about the future of parks, recreation and cultural facilities, programs and service development within the Mountain View County district, administration said in a briefing note to council.
“The master plan focus will be on public parks, recreation and cultural facilities operated by individual municipalites (in the district), along with those that are operated by partnership with community organizations,” the note states.
The overall objective of the planning process is to develop a comprehensive, long-term (five- to 10- year) sustainable strategy for parks, recreation and cultural facilities.
The strategy plan will have a number of functions, including to “provide a vision and long-term plan for the region that is founded on sound financial analysis and recommendations for future sustainability” and “establish a solid understanding of stakeholder, partner and citizen needs through a comprehensive community engagement process.”
It will also act as a guide for all public parks, recreation and cultural facilities operated by specific jurisdictions, as well as those operated in partnership.
As managing partner the Town of Olds will submit the grant application on behalf of the partnership (which includes Mountain View County and other area municipalities), enter into the grant agreement, receive and manage the grant funds on behalf of the partnership, and report to the ministry on the project expenditures and outcomes.
