Oct. 22, 2024 - The City of St. Catharines is excited to announce the release of its Draft
Sports Field Strategy, a comprehensive plan designed to guide the future of sports
fields and related infrastructure across the city until 2051.
This initiative addresses the needs of current and future sports enthusiasts by
identifying key improvements and expansion strategies for various sports fields to meet
the evolving demands of the community.
The strategy, developed in collaboration with Monteith Brown Planning Consultants Ltd.
and Dillon Consulting, builds upon the City’s Recreation Facilities and Programming
Master Plan and offers a roadmap for the planning, design, and investment in sports
fields over the next several decades, with key priorities to be implemented by 2036.
City staff are working alongside local sports organizations to ensure the strategy aligns
with the community's needs while promoting healthy, active lifestyles for all ages.
Key Highlights
• Enhanced Infrastructure: The strategy emphasizes upgrading existing sports
fields and improving amenities such as fields, washrooms, shade structures, and
lighting to extend field usage and improve the user experience.
• Community Consultation and Engagement: Community input has informed
the draft strategy through public open houses, feedback forms, and roundtable
discussions with local sports organizations. Public input highlighted the need for
both new and improved facilities to support recreational and competitive play.
• Population Growth and Changing Demographics: The strategy acknowledges
the projected population growth in St. Catharines and the increasing diversity of
field sports, including the rising interest in cricket and ultimate frisbee. It provides
recommendations to accommodate this growth with strategic planning of sports
field complexes and shared-use partnerships with schools and other institutions.
• Sustainability and Futureproofing: Recognizing the environmental challenges
posed by climate change, the strategy proposes incorporating sustainable
practices in sports field development, such as the use of permeable materials
and improved drainage systems to maintain field quality and usability during
extreme weather events.
The City invites residents and stakeholders to review the Draft Sports Field Strategy
and provide feedback at engagestc.ca/SportsFieldsStrategy.