The Department of Municipal Affairs has requested
proposals from qualified consultants to complete a study to help
identify recreation infrastructure needs for the North East Avalon
region for the next 20 years.
"Historically, recreational infrastructure needs have
been assessed and constructed on a community by community basis, with
little emphasis placed on the need to serve a regional population base,"
said the Honourable Dianne Whalen, Minister of Municipal Affairs. "In
fact, most municipalities justify the need for sport and recreation
infrastructure on the basis that it serves a population area greater
than the local municipality."
Most of the major recreational infrastructure on the
Northeast Avalon serves a population base of approximately 200,000
within the Northeast Avalon region. The overarching goal of the study is
to develop an evidence-based approach for decision-making related to
municipal requests for recreation facilities in the region.
The Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Tourism,
Culture and Recreation, said the needs assessment supports the goals of
the province�s recreation and sport strategy, Active, Healthy
Newfoundland and Labrador.
"One of the key directions in our recreation and sport
strategy is to support sport and fitness through improved
infrastructure," said Minister Jackman. "It is essential that we work
with municipalities and community planners to ensure infrastructure
throughout the province is developed, in a strategic manner, to meet the
needs of the local population."
Phase one of the analysis will focus on completing a
comprehensive inventory of existing recreation infrastructure and those
that are under construction in the region, including publicly and
privately owned facilities. The inventory shall be categorized by the
types of sports or recreation offered, the year built, age, overall
general condition of the facility, the remaining life expectancy,
utilization rate, and the building exterior maintenance requirement over
the next 20 years.
Phase two will be an analysis of regional
infrastructure needs and priorities. It will take into consideration
issues such as future population projections and land use development,
geography, population density, demographic trends and sporting trends.
The Northeast Avalon Region as it relates to this
project is composed of the City of St. John�s, the City of Mount Pearl,
and the towns of Conception Bay South, Paradise, Portugal Cove-St.
Phillips, Torbay, Logy Bay-Middle Cove-Outer Cover, Bay Bulls, Holyrood,
Bauline, Flatrock, Pouch Cove, Witless Bay and Petty Harbour-Maddox
Cove.
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