Parks Master Plan update approved - WEBC seeking more amenities

Riders enjoy bike trails around the Libro Centre.

The town’s updated Parks Master Plan (PMP) has been approved and there was a focus on two of the town’s parks.

The Windsor-Essex Bike Community (WEBC) appeared before town council with James Braakman, one of the four directors with WEBC, stating the group is looking to add a “skills park” to its existing trail system at the Libro Centre. 

“The WEBC skills park project aims to create a safe venue for mountain bikers to improve their skills and confidence, complementing the existing trails at the Libro Centre in Amherstburg,” said Braakman.

Braakman said it would be a free recreational venue with “skill-building elements” that replicate features of the current trails. It would be designed for all ages and skill levels and focus on safety and skill enhancement. 

The project would also see a new venue created that can be used by WEBC’s youth program and local high school mountain bike programs.

The skills park project would be funded entirely by WEBC, Braakman added, similar to how the three-phase trail system was constructed.

The vision for WEBC’s skills park design includes the promotion of safe and progressive skill development that is suitable for all riders, from beginners to advanced. Braakman added it will mimic existing features of the current mountain bike trails “to prepare riders with essential skills and confidence for the real trails recently completed by WEBC at the Libro Centre.”

Braakman added it would support high repetition for practice on safe, predictable features.

The proposed location for the skills park would be between the skateboard park and the new fire hall.

“WEBC intends to utilize its land stewardship agreement with the Town of Amherstburg for building and maintaining this proposed skills park,” said Braakman. “By using our volunteer WEBC trail crew and collaborating with a professional contractor, the project would be constructed at no cost to taxpayers, benefitting the community and the town without any financial burden.”

The estimated cost of the project is between $20,000-$30,000 and Braakman said WEBC would fundraise over the winter and look to begin construction in early summer 2026.

WEBC wanted the parks master plan approved so they could initiate the community consultation process, with Braakman stating there is an open house for the public Dec. 5 from 4-7 p.m. at the Libro Centre.

“This event will look to raise awareness about the skills park project and to gather public input regarding our proposal,” he said. 

WEBC intends to return to town council seeking conditional approval for this skills park project, he added.

Once the report on the parks master plan came before council, the focus shifted to H. Murray Smith Centennial Park.

Councillor Diane Pouget would join her council colleagues in voting in favour of the PMP update, but only after she was convinced funding could be moved forward for the redevelopment of Centennial Park.

“I’m very concerned about the parks master plan,” she said, recalling that the money from the sale of a portion of it to the Greater Essex County District School Board for the building of North Star High School was supposed to help redevelop the rest of the park.

“We have done absolutely nothing in that park,” she said.

Tennis courts, trails, basketball courts and more have been identified but “we’ve done nothing at all.” Pickleball courts were “not even on the agenda” but they were built at the Libro Centre.

A funding plan which doesn’t call for funding for Centennial Park until 2032 was of concern, but Pouget was told by CAO Valerie Critchley, Mayor Michael Prue and others that council can move funding forward if it chooses. 

There was $500,000 set aside in the 2025 budget but due to a grant request falling through, that money has yet to be spent.

Director of parks, facilities and recreation Heidi Baillargeon noted there are master plans within the PMP for 25 of the town’s parks, including H. Murray Smith Centennial Park. She said the PMP allows for a plan on what can go into each park and lets the town apply for further grant opportunities with a plan in place.

Baillargeon said consultants such as FORREC and McQueen Galloway and Associates joined parks and recreation staff in creating the updated PMP. It is the first update to the plan since 2018.

The new PMP works in concert with other town documents, she said, such as the Official Plan, Asset Management Plan, budgets, Strategic Plan, and accessibility plan among others.

A big part of the new plan was the reclassification of parks into categories such as regional/special purpose parks, community parks, neighbourhood parks and naturalized/linear parks.

Baillargeon added: “By having well-defined concept plans, the town can ensure that park development occurs in a co-ordinated and strategic manner rather than through ad hoc or reactive decisions. Having conceptual master plans also improves efficiency and transparency. They guide budgeting, grant applications, and partnerships, making it easier to justify investments and demonstrate how each project contributes to the town’s overall vision.”

Pouget was still concerned about H. Murray Smith Centennial Park and the proposed 2032 funding timetable, stating that “would be 14 years of total neglect for that park.” Prue said despite not seeing the park when it was in its prime, he still had a soft spot for it and noted he was a council member who voted against a plan to sell a portion of the north end of it.

“We said we are not selling any portion of any park,” said Prue.

The mayor added he suggested moving $500,000 into the 2025 budget.

Councillor Don McArthur said he was happy to support the PMP update.

“What I like about this is that it lays it all out,” he said. 

Plans for each park show what could go in them when the money is there, which is good for transparency and accountability, he added. 

Councillor Peter Courtney recalled the passion around H. Murray Smith Centennial Park but said the new plan was something he could support. He said the town has a vision, adding he wants to see “strategic moves” at Centennial Park in the future.

Town council passed the PMP update in a unanimous vote.

Parks Master Plan update approved - WEBC seeking more amenities

By Ron Giofu