Town plans › Parks and Recreation Master Plan · Town money, debt and taxes · Growth and new development

Parks and Recreation Master Plan

Full title: Parks and Recreation Master Plan (December 2021)

StatusEndorsed

Council decisionJanuary 17, 2022 [S21]

Years it covers2022-2046

Written byMonteith Brown Planning Consultants

Read the plan on the town's site Read our saved copy Download a copy

A 25-year to-do list for the town's parks, arenas, playgrounds, sports fields and recreation programs.

It updates the town's 2015 parks plan and looks ahead to 2046, when the population is expected to be 47% bigger.
It makes 63 numbered recommendations. Each one has a priority (high, medium or lower) and a timing: short-term 2022-2025, medium-term 2026-2029, or longer-term 2030 and later.
For buildings, it says to replace the Tri-Township Arena in Mount Brydges with a new multi-use building with one ice pad. It also says to add a double gym, a walking track and seniors' space to the Gemini Sportsplex.
For parks, it says the town needs about 22.5 more hectares of active parkland by 2046. It calls for new community parks in Strathroy and Mount Brydges, and for playgrounds where north Strathroy has none nearby.
It says the plan should be checked every year at budget time and reported on. It should be fully updated between 2026 and 2031.

Why it matters to you

Big decisions about arenas, gyms, seniors' space and new parks are supposed to follow this plan. The mayor promised council would follow the Recreation master plan that residents paid for. The plan also says an approved master plan helps the town win government grants.

Council endorsed the plan: 'THAT: Council receive Report BBP-2022-11 for information; and further, THAT: Council endorse the Parks and Recreation Master Plan, November 2021.' (moved by Deputy Mayor Richards, seconded by Councillor Brennan; Carried; no recorded vote). This was an endorsement by resolution, not a by-law.

Promises about this plan

Colin Grantham (Mayor): He promised a council-approved four-year capital budget tied to the Asset Management Plan, and to follow the strategic plan and the roads, water/wastewater and recreation master plans already paid for, instead of making a new strategic plan.

What the plan says to do (26)

Progress only changes when a public record shows something was done. Page numbers point to the plan itself.

Replace the Tri-Township Arena with a new multi-use building in Mount Brydges that has one indoor ice pad. page 133
When: Short-term (2022-2025) | Cost: Financial implications examined in RFIRS | Where: Tri-Township Arena, Mount Brydges | Priority: High
Not yet checked
As part of the new Mount Brydges building, turn the Caradoc Community Centre into more flexible, active space for many uses. page 134
When: Short-term (2022-2025) | Cost: Financial implications examined in RFIRS | Where: Caradoc Community Centre, Mount Brydges | Priority: High
Not yet checked
While planning the new Mount Brydges arena, study who should run it: the town or an outside operator. page 127
When: Short-term (2022-2025) | Cost: Determination of operating cost implications will require further study | Where: Mount Brydges | Priority: High
Not yet checked
Start an expansion of the Gemini Sportsplex with a double gym, a walking track and program space. It would be the main place for seniors' activities. page 134
When: Short-term (2022-2025) | Cost: Financial implications examined in RFIRS | Where: Gemini Sportsplex, Strathroy | Priority: High
Not yet checked
Keep the West Middlesex Memorial Centre arena open until there is a plan to pay for replacing its ice pad with a third pad at the Gemini Sportsplex. page 133
When: Medium-term (2026-2029) | Cost: Financial implications examined in RFIRS | Where: West Middlesex Memorial Centre and Gemini Sportsplex, Strathroy | Priority: High
Not yet checked
When the West Middlesex Memorial Centre arena closes, consider turning it into an indoor turf field or a gym. page 134
When: Medium-term (2026-2029) | Cost: Costs dependent on future use; will require further study | Where: West Middlesex Memorial Centre, Strathroy | Priority: High
Not yet checked
Offer more low-cost drop-in and sign-up programs, with a focus on children and youth, older adults and lower-income households. page 127
When: Ongoing | Priority: High
Not yet checked
Study whether an indoor swimming pool is possible once the population reaches 30,000 (expected in 2031). page 134
When: Longer-term (2030+) | Cost: Estimate $75,000 for Study (DC-eligible) | Priority: High
Not yet checked
In the Official Plan review, set a target of 2.0 hectares of active parkland for every 1,000 residents. About 22.5 more hectares are needed by 2046. page 130
When: Short-term (2022-2025) | Priority: High
Not yet checked
Find and secure one more community park site (3+ hectares) in Strathroy and one in Mount Brydges, on top of the parks planned for North Meadows. page 130
When: Longer-term (2030+) | Cost: Specific sites and funding sources to be determined | Where: Strathroy; Mount Brydges | Priority: High
Not yet checked
Make sure the playgrounds planned for North Meadows are built in the first stages of the subdivision, so north Strathroy gets the playgrounds it lacks. page 132
When: Medium-term (2026-2029) | Where: North Meadows Secondary Plan area, north Strathroy | Priority: High
Not yet checked
Set up a fund to replace old playgrounds, as a line in the capital budget every year, including accessibility upgrades. page 132
When: Short-term (2022-2025) | Cost: $50,000 annually would support replacement of two playgrounds every 3 years | Priority: High
Not yet checked
Build the planned all-wheels park at the Fair Grounds Recreation Complex. page 133
When: Short-term (2022-2025) | Cost: Estimate $700,000 (funding partially secured) | Where: Fair Grounds Recreation Complex, Strathroy | Priority: High
Not yet checked
Within ten years, build basketball courts in new parks: a half court in Mount Brydges, a full court in North Meadows Community Park, and a half court in west Strathroy. page 132
When: Short- to Medium-term | Cost: Estimate $250,000 (DC-eligible) | Where: Mount Brydges; North Meadows Community Park; west Strathroy | Priority: High
Not yet checked
Add two tennis courts to the community park planned for North Meadows. page 132
When: Medium- to Longer-term | Cost: Estimate $250,000 (DC-eligible) | Where: North Meadows, north Strathroy | Priority: Medium
Not yet checked
Build a group of pickleball courts (for example 6 courts) in a future community park. page 132
When: Medium-term (2026-2029) | Cost: Estimate $250,000 (DC-eligible) | Priority: Medium
Not yet checked
Start an outdoor rink program to help volunteers run ice rinks in parks. page 132
When: Short-term (2022-2025) | Cost: Estimate $10,000 for equipment | Priority: High
Not yet checked
Put lights on one existing ball diamond at Yorkview Community Park. Make a plan to upgrade the lights on one diamond every two to three years. page 134
When: Short-term (2022-2025) | Cost: Estimate $80,000 (DC-eligible) for Yorkview; lighting strategy costs to be determined through future study | Where: Yorkview Community Park, Strathroy | Priority: Medium (Yorkview lights); High (lighting strategy)
Not yet checked
Consider replacing the Mount Brydges skate park with a modest one for younger youth, if the community helps raise money. page 133
When: Longer-term (2030+) | Cost: Estimate $250,000 | Where: Mount Brydges | Priority: Medium
Not yet checked
If enough people want it, consider an off-leash dog park in Mount Brydges, run day to day by a community group. page 133
When: Longer-term (2030+) | Cost: Estimate $50,000 (DC-eligible) | Where: Mount Brydges | Priority: Lower
Not yet checked
Review staff numbers as the town grows. Consider two new jobs: an events and booking coordinator, and a parks and open space coordinator. page 128
When: Short- to Medium-term | Cost: Refer to annual budget process | Priority: High
Not yet checked
Once the new Mount Brydges building opens, charge the same rental and program fees in Strathroy and Mount Brydges. page 128
When: Short-term (2022-2025) | Where: Strathroy; Mount Brydges | Priority: Medium
Not yet checked
Check the condition of park equipment and features regularly, and use the results in the town's long-term repair and spending plans. page 131
When: Short-term (2022-2025) | Priority: Medium
Not yet checked
Set aside money every year to repair and replace major recreation buildings. The yearly amount could be up to 2% of what the buildings would cost to replace, or 5% to 10% of the department's revenue. page 135
When: Short-term (2022-2025) | Cost: Determination of cost implications will require further study | Priority: Medium
Not yet checked
Set up a way to track and report on the plan's progress, such as yearly reports to council or the public. page 135
When: Short-term (2022-2025) | Priority: High
Not yet checked
Fully review and update the Parks and Recreation Master Plan between 2026 and 2031. page 135
When: Medium-term (between 2026 and 2031) | Cost: Estimate $75,000 (DC-eligible) | Priority: High
Not yet checked

How to tell if it is being followed

Look in each year's capital budget for the big projects: work on a Mount Brydges arena or the Tri-Township Arena, the Gemini Sportsplex expansion, a yearly playground replacement line (about $50,000), and money set aside for recreation buildings.
Watch council agendas for Community Services reports on the Tri-Township Arena, the Gemini Sportsplex, the West Middlesex Memorial Centre and new parks in North Meadows. Check whether staff point to the master plan.
Check whether staff bring council a yearly progress report on the plan, as the plan itself recommends (Recommendations 61 and 62).
Look for tenders and contracts for park features named in the plan, such as ball diamond lights, basketball and tennis courts, pickleball courts and playgrounds.
Check whether work on a new or updated Parks and Recreation Master Plan starts between 2026 and 2031, as Recommendation 63 says.
Compare subdivision agreements and the Official Plan's parkland rules with the plan's target of 2.0 hectares of active parkland per 1,000 residents.

What has happened since

June 15, 2026
After a Class C cost estimate for an accessible (AODA) entrance and other Tri-Township Arena work, council told staff to work with a+LiNK on a detailed scope, a more detailed Class B estimate and grant applications. [S16]
April 20, 2026
Council voted 8-1 (recorded vote) to move Customer Service into 137 Frank Street. This is the former seniors' centre building, which the plan says was declared surplus in 2020. In June 2026 it was named the Municipal Service and Community Centre. The plan had proposed seniors' space at the Gemini Sportsplex instead. [S17]
April 7, 2026
Council told staff to go ahead with the Tri-Township Arena plan recommended by the arena board. [S15]
December 1, 2025
Council told staff to get an early (Class C) cost estimate from a+LiNK for an addition to the Tri-Township Arena (Option A). [S14]
July 7, 2025
Council approved a 2025-2028 staffing plan in principle. It included turning the two parks and recreation supervisor jobs into manager jobs. [S13]
April 7, 2025
Council received a Parks and Recreational Area Condition Assessment report (CS-2025-16) for information. This is the kind of park condition check that Recommendation 30 asks for. [S12]
January 13, 2025
The Finance Committee gave $500,000 from the reserve fund to the Tri-Township Arena. It also gave $450,000 from parks reserves: $200,000 to Campbellvale Site Park and $250,000 to Southgrove Park. [S11]
May 21, 2024
A motion to carry out Option B in the arena Expression of Interest report was defeated. Council instead voted to work with the Tri-Township Arena Board on a plan to keep the existing arena running. This is different from the plan's Recommendation 47, which says to replace the arena. [S10]
February 5, 2024
Council told staff to publish an Expression of Interest, looking for a private partner to build and run an ice arena and community centre in Mount Brydges. The same day, the Finance Committee moved $400,000 from the Gemini Expansion project to go ahead with the gym design. It also took several park items out of the capital budget until partners could be found. [S9]
July 17, 2023
Council approved the Mount Brydges Arena Committee's advice to keep going with site work for a new complex at 565 Lions Park Drive. [S8]
February 6, 2023
Staff said the Gemini expansion comes from the 2021 Parks and Recreation Master Plan. Council voted to pay for it from the Recreation Infrastructure Renewal Strategy Fund and told staff to work with a+LiNK Architecture on drawings ready for tender. Several councillors said a new Mount Brydges arena was still the priority. [S7]
January 16, 2023
The 2023 draft Community Services capital list included "Gemini Arena (PRMP 4 & 5) - Initiate Expansion Project at Gemini Design ($500,000)". [S6]
December 19, 2022
The January 2022 staff report on the plan was attached again, as a background report, to staff report BBP-2022-130 on the Growing Together Official Plan project. Council received that report (vote not recorded). [S3]
July 18, 2022
Council endorsed the separate Recreational Trails Master Plan (June 2022, by WSP), told staff to post the Notice of Study Completion, and agreed its funding needs be considered in future operating and capital budgets (report BBP-2022-85; Carried, no recorded vote). [S22]
July 18, 2022
Council adopted Official Plan Amendment 14 (By-law 53-2022), which put the plan's park types and parkland rules into the Official Plan, and sent it to Middlesex County for approval (Carried). The staff report says all eight Growing Together master plans and studies were complete. [S22]
January 17, 2022
Staff report BBP-2022-11 presented the final draft plan (November 2021). Council received the report and endorsed the plan (Carried, no recorded vote). The report says money decisions stay with each year's budget. [S21]

Words used in this plan

PRMP: The short name staff use for the Parks and Recreation Master Plan.
RFIRP / RFIRS: The 2021 Recreation Facility Infrastructure Renewal Plan (also called a Strategy). It was an earlier study of the town's arenas and community centres.
DC-eligible: Development charges, the fees builders pay to help cover growth, can pay for part of the cost.
Cash-in-lieu of parkland: Money a developer pays the town instead of giving it land for a park.
Community Park: A bigger park (3+ hectares in this plan) with sports fields and other features that serves a wide area.
Active parkland: Park land used for play and sports, not natural areas or woodlots.
Class C / Class B estimate: Early guesses at what a project will cost. A Class B estimate is more detailed and more reliable than a Class C one.
WMMC: West Middlesex Memorial Centre, the older arena and gym in Strathroy.

Sources

[S1] Municipality of Strathroy-Caradoc / Monteith Brown Planning Consultants (copy hosted by County of Middlesex), Parks and Recreation Master Plan, December 2021, 2021-12. plan document; 172 PDF pages. Hosted by Middlesex County as part of the OPA 14 approval file. The table of all recommendations is on PDF pages 127-135.
[S2] Municipality of Strathroy-Caradoc (copy hosted by County of Middlesex), Recreational Trails Master Plan, June 2022, 2022-06. plan document; A separate 120-page plan prepared by WSP (per staff report BBP-2022-85), saved as recreational-trails-master-plan.pdf. Its trail network cost table (PDF page 61) totals $11,924,090.40.
[S3] Municipality of Strathroy-Caradoc, Council minutes, Dec 19, 2022 - item 6.2.1 Growing Together Official Plan Project (BBP-2022-130), December 19, 2022. minutes; Lists the attachment 'Presentation of Official Plan Background Reports - Parks and Recreation Master Plan_Jan 2022' (eScribe doc 13295).
[S4] Municipality of Strathroy-Caradoc (copy hosted by County of Middlesex), Growing Together Redline Official Plan Amendment No. 14 - Recommendation of Adoption Report (BBP-2022-82), July 18, 2022. staff report; Says all eight Growing Together master plans and studies were finished and used to shape OPA 14.
[S5] Municipality of Strathroy-Caradoc (copy hosted by County of Middlesex), Strathroy-Caradoc Official Plan Review - Summary of Changes, 2022-05. staff report; Says the plan's vision, guiding principles and parkland advice were added to Section 2.4 of the Official Plan.
[S6] Municipality of Strathroy-Caradoc, Council minutes, Jan 16, 2023 - 2023 Preliminary Capital Budget Program (CS-2023-01), January 16, 2023. minutes
[S7] Municipality of Strathroy-Caradoc, Council minutes, Feb 6, 2023 - Initiation of the Gemini Expansion Program (CS-2023-02), February 6, 2023. minutes
[S8] Municipality of Strathroy-Caradoc, Council minutes, Jul 17, 2023 - Mt. Brydges Arena Committee Update 4 (CS-2023-18), July 17, 2023. minutes
[S9] Municipality of Strathroy-Caradoc, Council minutes (CS-2024-03) and Finance Committee minutes, Feb 5, 2024, February 5, 2024. minutes; Read from local copies. Finance Committee minutes: https://pub-strathroy-caradoc.escribemeetings.com/Meeting.aspx?Id=36e6e7e5-941c-4add-946a-28fc9afad34e&Agenda=PostMinutes&lang=English
[S10] Municipality of Strathroy-Caradoc, Council minutes, May 21, 2024 - Expression of Interest - Mt. Brydges Arena (CS-2024-21), May 21, 2024. minutes; The minutes do not say what Option B was.
[S11] Municipality of Strathroy-Caradoc, Finance Committee minutes, Jan 13, 2025, January 13, 2025. minutes
[S12] Municipality of Strathroy-Caradoc, Council minutes, Apr 7, 2025 - Parks and Recreational Area Condition Assessment (CS-2025-16), April 7, 2025. minutes; the item was on the consent agenda. The report itself (eScribe docs 26827 and 26828) was not read.
[S13] Municipality of Strathroy-Caradoc, Council minutes, Jul 7, 2025 - Staffing Plan 2025-2028 (CAO-2025-14), July 7, 2025. minutes
[S14] Municipality of Strathroy-Caradoc, Council minutes, Dec 1, 2025 - Tri Township Arena Addition Design Options (CS-2025-65), December 1, 2025. minutes
[S15] Municipality of Strathroy-Caradoc, Council minutes, Apr 7, 2026 - Tri Township Arena Update (CS-2026-12), April 7, 2026. minutes
[S16] Municipality of Strathroy-Caradoc, Council minutes, Jun 15, 2026 - TTA Class C Costing - AODA Entrance and other Capital Items (CS-2026-38), June 15, 2026. minutes
[S17] Municipality of Strathroy-Caradoc, Council minutes, Apr 20, 2026 - 137 Frank Street, Municipal Service and Community Centre (CS-2026-17), April 20, 2026. minutes; The name was approved Jun 1, 2026 (ED-2026-06): https://pub-strathroy-caradoc.escribemeetings.com/Meeting.aspx?Id=f5bad3f0-af8d-4d58-aa29-f4e0b3630ea5&Agenda=PostMinutes&lang=English
[S18] Middlesex Banner, Letters to the Editor: New Sign Erected at Southfield Park, April 22, 2026. news; A resident writes that staff told him there are no plans to replace Southfield Park's playground and that the master plan 'has moved on'. This is one resident's account, not an official record.
[S19] Municipality of Strathroy-Caradoc, Staff report BBP-2022-11 - Presentation of Official Plan Background Reports - Parks and Recreation Master Plan (for the Jan 17, 2022 council meeting), January 17, 2022. staff report; 11 pages. It was attached again to the Dec 19, 2022 agenda. It recommends council endorse the 'final draft' plan dated November 2021, and its 63-recommendation table matches the December 2021 plan. The page footer misprints the report number as BBP-2020-11.
[S20] Municipality of Strathroy-Caradoc, Staff report BBP-2022-85 - Presentation of Official Plan Background Reports - Trails Master Plan (for the Jul 18, 2022 council meeting), July 18, 2022. staff report; 5 pages. It recommends council endorse the Recreational Trails Master Plan (June 2022, prepared by WSP) and consider its funding in future budgets. Council endorsed it on Jul 18, 2022 (see S22).
[S21] Municipality of Strathroy-Caradoc, Council minutes, Jan 17, 2022 - item 6.2.4 Presentation of Official Plan Background Reports - Parks and Recreation Master Plan (BBP-2022-11), January 17, 2022. minutes; Minutes HTML fetched 2026-10-27; Steve Langlois of Monteith Brown (spelled 'Langois' in the minutes) answered questions. Carried; no recorded vote.
[S22] Municipality of Strathroy-Caradoc, Council minutes, Jul 18, 2022 - item 8.1.2 Trails Master Plan (BBP-2022-85) and item 8.1.4 OPA 14 (BBP-2022-82), July 18, 2022. minutes; Minutes HTML fetched 2026-10-27; Trails plan endorsed (moved Hipple, seconded Brennan, Carried). OPA 14 by-law 53-2022 approved (moved Kennes, seconded Richards, Carried). No recorded votes.

What we could not find

Could not find the plan on the town's own website (strathroy-caradoc.ca). The best link found is the Middlesex County copy.
No yearly progress report on the plan (Recommendation 61) was found in council minutes from Nov 2022 to Oct 2026.
Did not read the 2025 Parks and Recreational Area Condition Assessment report itself (eScribe docs 26827 and 26828), only the minutes.
Could not confirm whether the all-wheels park at the Fair Grounds (Recommendation 42) was built. A June 2023 advisory committee minute mentions an upcoming 'official opening of the skatepark' but does not name the site.