Carbonear to soon see first draft of recreation master plan

By Mark Squibb/February 24, 2023

The Town of Carbonear is hopeful that a first draft of its new recreation master plan will be completed by the end of the month, or at least by early March.

The Town hired Tract Consulting back in November to prepare a Recreation Master Plan that will, according to a press release issued at the time, “inform future planning, investment and development of recreation activities and facilities in the town.”

As per the conditions of the hire, Tract was to seek feedback from the community, which they did through surveys and in-person forums.

Director of Recreation and Tourism Rob Button gave a brief recreation update during last week’s public council meeting on the progress made thus far.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the public and stakeholders who provided all their input,” said Button. “Our consultant has taken all of this back and they’re working diligently to get this completed. We’re hoping to have the first draft of this plan come the end of this month or the first part of March. So, we’re looking forward to getting that and to moving forward.”

The plan is to be completed in 2023, and will lay out the Town’s recreation priorities for the next decade.

It will include a review of existing programs and infrastructure, and will look to increase opportunities for leisure and wellness activities for all ages.

As council awaits the new plan, it can rest in the knowledge that, according to Button, swimming lesson registrations are pretty close, if not on par, with pre-COVID numbers, a sign that residents have an appetite for recreational offerings.

Buttons said that 249 children registered for swimming lessons in January, a month, he says that tends to be a little slower. Prior to COVID, somewhere between 250 and 300 children would register for swimming lessons in that same time period.