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PARKS & RECREATION/COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT <br /> <br />Department Overview <br />The Parks & Recreation Department promotes community engagement, wellness, and pride by providing <br />exceptional public recreation services, activities, and facilities to the Little Canada community. <br /> <br />Mission Statement <br />Our mission is to promote community engagement, wellness, and pride by providing exceptional public <br />recreation services and facilities. <br /> <br />Service Areas <br /> Parks  Recreation Services  Facilities <br /> Open Space <br /> Community Events <br /> Natural Resources <br /> Trails <br /> Horticulture <br /> Wellness <br /> <br /> <br />2024/2025 Departmental Accomplishments <br /> Continued focus on natural resources by clearing buckthorn and enhancing pollinator gardens <br /> Opened Pickleball Courts at Spooner Park <br /> Completed Stormwater Improvement project at Pioneer Park, creating sustainable stormwater <br />management across the park <br /> Conducted recreation programming internally, featuring 3 seasonal recreation staff, ultimately <br />delivering 85% run rate for programming <br /> Implemented Community Building Technical Advisory Committee to analyze and complete a <br />recommendation to the community <br /> <br />2026 Departmental Goals <br /> Initiate projects scheduled in the 2025 Capital Improvement Plan <br /> Design and Plan Community Building at Pioneer Park <br /> Continue to utilize the Parks Master Plan as a guide for the parks system <br /> Complete Thunderbay Boardwalk Replacement to enhance regional connectivity <br /> Develop Natural Resource Management Plan for the City <br /> Develop Annual Report for the Parks and Recreation Department <br /> Develop Cost Recovery policy for Recreation Programs and Events <br /> <br />Budgetary Commentary <br />There is a net increase in this department of 8.42% or $57,127. Personnel cost increased by 8.9% or $47,721. <br />Approximately $10,000 relates to additional budgeted expenditures for park seasonals and rink seasonals <br />(includes holiday pay beginning with 2026). The remaining 37,000 relates to COLA adjustments and step <br />increases for eligible employees. There is a 2.78% increase in the commodities sections to match the average <br />amount spent for parks and recreation supplies in the past several years and a 9.29% in contractual services, <br />primarily relating to increases in utilities costs and other contracted services such as IT services. <br />88