By paNOW

Residents have their say on 10-year community services plan

Oct 17, 2017 | 11:00 AM

The City of Prince Albert hosted the first of two open house events last night to let residents give input on the city’s 10-year community services master plan.

Large display boards were set up in the lobby of the Art Hauser Centre outlining details of the plan. The boards were the results of previous public surveys and the processes the city uses when deciding which capital projects to build. City representatives and consultants were on hand to chat with the public on a come-and-go basis, and a brief written survey was available to provide more detailed feedback.

Jody Boulet, director of community services, said the open houses represent a final opportunity for residents to have their say before the plan goes before council for final approval. So far, he said, their public polling indicates new pool facilities – both indoor and outdoor – are in demand in Prince Albert.

“There have been some initial things that the community has been very vocal about,” Boulet said. “Aquatics has been the number one priority that people have pointed to.”

Boulet said the first open house had a good turnout, and the informal discussion format worked very well.

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“We had pretty good attendance out for the first night,” he said. “We’ll debrief from both last night and tonight following this evening’s session, and then the online comments as well will be compiled by the end of the month.”

The public survey data presented for review at the open house showed indoor playgrounds, drop-in centres and science centres as the other top indoor priorities for the city. On the outdoor side, residents asked for more playgrounds, multi-use trails (non-motorized) and natural areas. Ninety per cent of those surveyed felt there was a need for new and upgraded facilities, and 85 per cent said they were willing to maintain or increase current tax levels.

Vern Hodgins, a retired teacher who attended the open house, said he was happy to see the community services department talking about a long-term plan for Little Red River Park.

“I think Little Red River Park is a real jewel and Prince Albert’s lucky to have that kind of facility within four miles of us,” Hodgins said. “When we moved here 40 years ago, I considered it beautiful, but now it does need some work.”

Hodgins said he was pleased to see the community services department consulting so widely before finalizing their 10-year plan.

“It’s nice to see the city doing this for long-term planning,” he said.

Citizens will have another chance to have a say on the master plan tonight at a second open house from 6-8 p.m. at the Alfred Jenkins Field House. After tonight’s open house the displays will be made available online to ensure everyone has a chance to participate.

Taylor.macpherson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @TMacPhersonNews