Sturgeon County is working to improve our regional parks, open spaces, and trail network.
This initiative is not just about improving our parks—it’s about creating spaces that reflect the values and needs of our community and will enhance the quality of life for all County residents.
Why are we doing this?
This project aims to develop a plan to guide the future development of a parks network that will meet the diverse needs of our community. The goal is to provide spaces and places for residents to enjoy, whether they’re looking for a quiet place to read, a playground for their children, or trails for hiking and cycling.
To generate this plan, we are working through different phases of research, community engagement, and idea generation.
What are we doing?
To better understand what amenities community members want, the County is undertaking different phases of research, community engagement, and idea generation. Residents and visitors are being asked to share their thoughts about the local park spaces and what activities they want to do in them.
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Timeline
Phase 1: Project Launch July 2024
Sturgeon County identified the need to develop a stronger network of regional parks, to thoughtfully plan for programming needs across parks, and to identify usership of existing amenities. To this end, the County has embarked on a Parks Feasibility Study to develop an enhanced system of parks and open spaces and to create a concept and management plan for future county-wide parks.
To supplement this study, the County is also preparing a Parks Bylaw. Given the overlap between the bylaw and the Parks Feasibility Study, this engagement plan also includes engaging with the community to gauge their perspectives on what is appropriate in County parks.
| COMMUNICATION AND ENGAGEMENT PLAN OBJECTIVES | MEASURES OF SUCCESS |
| To develop trust with stakeholders by keeping them informed and responding to inquiries quickly. | – Active participation by stakeholders in online or public engagement settings. – Responding to all inquires within three business days. Passing along inquires to the proper personnel within one business day, if needed. |
| To enable access for the public to participate. | – Levels of use between various forms of access to information and engagement tools. – Feedback on information provided and the access to that information. |
| To provide monitoring tools to measure the success of the engagement plan. | – Tracking all external communication pieces distributed and any comments, questions, feedback, or concerns received. – Monitoring participation rate in the tools used to inform and engage. |
| To obtain a collaborative communication and engagement approach with County Administration and Council. | – Feedback on the methods and approaches being used by the consultant. |
Phase 2: Community Engagement August 2024 – September 2024
Phase 3: Craft and Refine Autumn/Winter 2024
Refining Park Concepts and Development Study Overview
Based on stakeholder feedback, the County will refine the preliminary park concepts into a single preferred plan. Using the refined park concepts, a multi-year Action Plan for parks development in Sturgeon County will be developed. This plan will be realistic, measurable and time-bound, outlining strategies and actions in areas such as infrastructure, lifecycle costs, park priorities, land acquisition, operating budgets, and staffing needs. The Action Plan will support annual workplans, guide County Council updates, and forecast future operating costs.
Phase 4: Refine Outcomes Spring 2025
Final Report
After the final public engagement, the report will be reviewed to summarize key milestones, reflect community preferences, and provide a framework for future park development within the County.