Eckville Launches Recreation Plan

Planning has been the focus for Eckville over the last few months. Eckville has just released a Community Recreation Plan at a community wide event. The community had previously identified the need to bring together volunteers, residents, and leisure in a more effective way and recognized the need for a recreation director to aide in that process.

The Eckville Community Development Association and Recreation Board has conducted extensive research both within and outside of the community and with communities of similar size. Out of that research it was evident to have a recreation director work with a plan to meet the recreation needs of the area. Over the last four months the two groups have worked with an ACE contractor to formalize a recreation plan with all the research and community input that had already been gathered.

The recreation plan is fantastic because the process was driven by the community. The community identified the priorities, goals, vision and outcomes and now the plan is in print. One of their first steps is to hire recreation director on a two year pilot project. There is little doubt whether the plan will be used or not. This plan will not become dusty on a shelf because the community has been involved from the start and the accountability is held there. This document is "living" because it is "flexible, accessible to community members, and will be continually reviewed".

Eckville is in a position of growth and opportunity in terms of recreation opportunities and now they have the plan to reach those opportunities. Way to go Eckville!