WSPR STAFF REPORT: 2026 1st Quarter Progress Report

MUNICPAL OWNER REPRESENTATIVES

WSPR STAFF REPORT

RECOMMENDATION:

That the West Shore Parks & Recreation Society Members receive this report for information.

BACKGROUND:

The West Shore Parks & Recreation Society members (WSPRS) approved funding for a regional parks & recreation facilities master plan that will evaluate the current state of parks & recreation facilities on the Westshore and develop a 10- to 20- year road map to address the growing sporting and recreational needs of the community.

Progress updates will be provided by the WSPRS CAO quarterly or following key project milestones.

DISCUSSION:

Meetings were held with Society member’s senior administrative staff between February 2nd to 4th to confirm and clarify the feedback received from their Councils on the draft master plan. Subsequently, a special board of directors meeting was held where the list of recommended scope changes to the master plan were presented and approved by the Board. These changes resulted in a 6-month extension to the workplan and a project cost increase of $39,720 which will be borne by the WSPRS 2026 operating budget.

Work began immediately and a revised draft master plan will be reviewed with the board of directors on April 22nd. The revised project workplan includes a 2-week public viewing and comment period in late May, with the final master plan to be presented at the June board of directors’ meeting, seeking approval.

The revised plan includes greater detail on estimated costing and timelines, high-level funding strategies, more demographic data and community information for each Society member, more detailed usage data of the existing facilities, outlines member lands available for recreation use, expanded analysis of non-WSPRS facilities, further described advantages of co-locating facilities, tools for members to use in evaluating operating models of facilities, and recommendations for liaison roles between WSPRS and member municipalities.

BUDGET IMPLICATIONS:

The approved budget for the West Shore Parks & Recreation Facilities Master Plan project under the original scope was $140,000 and has been fully spent. A financial update has been submitted to the Society members’ financial officers.

The approved changes to the project scope, valued at $39,720 will be expensed to the WSPRS 2026 operating budget.

Respectfully Submitted,

Grant Brown, Chief Administrative Officer