Markham's leisure plan pegged at $325 million over 10 years

Markham
February 11, 2010 03:00 PM
L.H. Tiffany Hsieh Markham is looking to spend $325 million on a 10-year program that would address the town's parks, recreation, culture and library needs, elected officials learned this week.
The Integrated Leisure Master Plan, one of many supporting documents for the town's growth management strategy, will lay out where the town should invest new infrastructure for leisure based on growth, needs and feasibility, the town's commissioner of community and fire services said.
"I call it the quality-of-life maker," said Brenda Librecz, who heads the multi-disciplinary project.
For example, a new community centre is already being recommended for southeast Markham, at Markham Road and Elson Street.
The plan includes library facilities for east Markham, Milliken Mills, Thornhill, southeast Markham and Markham Centre.
Similarly, indoor recreation is planned for east Markham, Milliken Mills, southeast Markham, Angus Glen, Victoria Square and other facilities.
The town will spend $149 million alone on approximately 160 hectares of parks.
However, staff estimated the town may need to be borrow $65 million between 2010 and 2019 to fund the programs.
Regional Councillor Joe Virgilio expressed concern over the high cost. "I don't think we can afford all the nice things you've got," he said. "I think this is the last year we are going to have a zero-tax increase with what you have here."
Deputy Mayor Jack Heath said the report is very good but not dynamic enough. He said he was not pleased to see so little about the theatre and Varley expansion, as well as the Rouge Park implementation task force.
About Pan American Games facilities, which are accounted for in the plan, Mr. Heath said, "We know we've got a pool coming, but there should be more on the impact overall if the town gets the (Canadian Sports Centre Ontario)."
Regional Councillor Jim Jones and Councillor Carolina Moretti both said the town needs to make better use of existing buildings.
"Markham Centre would be a great place to incorporate a library into an existing place, instead of a stand-alone building," Ms Moretti said.
While Councillor Logan Kanapathi said he's thrilled to see southeast Markham community centre in his ward finally moving forward, councillors Erin Shapero and Don Hamilton expressed disappointment Thornhill and south Unionville were ignored in the report.
"I think a little more thoughts need to be put into the southwest of the town," Ms Shapero said.
Ms Librecz assured the town's general committee that the plan is meant to help guide council more than anything else.
"This doesn't tie your hands," she said. "You'll unfold this as you work through it in the next 10 years. We have investigated every single area, it's not a bell-and-whistle approach."
Public meetings are to take place in February and March, with specific dates to be announced later.