Parks & Rec Master Plan Update + Feasibility Study

Parks & Recreation Master Plan Update + Community and Aquatics Centre Feasibility Study

The City of St. Thomas is undertaking a Parks and Recreation Master Plan Update and a Community and Aquatics Centre Feasibility Study to address significant changes in population growth and community needs since 2020. These initiatives align with the City’s Strategic Plan and will provide Council with the necessary insights to guide future recreation planning and investment decisions.

Both projects have been informed by public input, best practices, demographic and growth forecasts, and activity trends to ensure that these valued public facilities and services continue to address the community’s needs into the future. A team led by London-based Monteith Brown Planning Consultants has been retained to assist the City with these studies.

We are currently in the final phase of the project, and the Draft Master Plan and Feasibility Study are now available for public review. Opportunities to review the draft plans and provide feedback are outlined below. After public review, the plans will be finalized and presented to Council for approval on March 9, 2026.

The City of St. Thomas is updating their Parks and Recreation Master Plan to guide the continued delivery of high-quality services and facilities in the community.

This Master Plan Update considers:

Improvements and future needs for:

Recreation facilities such as swimming pools, arenas, sports fields and courts, and program spaces.
Parks and park amenities such as playgrounds, splash pads, pavilions, and more.

Policies and initiatives that support community access, service delivery, and sustainability.

A Community and Aquatic Centre Feasibility Study will be conducted that will focus on current and growth-related needs for an indoor pool, indoor turf facility, and other recreational spaces. This Feasibility Study assesses:

Cost estimates for constructing and operating the proposed facilities.
Potential phasing of construction.
Funding opportunities and potential partnership models.
Site selection criteria to identify and evaluate potential locations.

The Draft Master Plan and Feasibility Study have been created with the help of community feedback received during engagement opportunities in February 2025. Other inputs that have informed the projects include best practices, demographics, growth forecasts, participation trends, land availability, and financial feasibility.

Draft versions of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan Update and the Community and Aquatic Centre Feasibility Study are now available for public review.

St. Thomas is growing, and this presents an exciting opportunity to improve existing services and create new parks and facilities that will serve current and future residents.

Current opportunities to provide feedback on the Draft Master Plan and Feasibility Study include:

Attend a drop-in Open House to learn more about the draft plans and provide feedback on the recommendations. These sessions will be held at Joe Thornton Community Centre on January 22, 2026 from 2:00 – 4:00 pm and 6:00 – 8:00 pm. Feel free to attend anytime during these hours to review the plans and discuss with the consulting team; there is no formal presentation.
Submit written comments on the draft plans to [email protected] no later than February 13, 2026

The City of St. Thomas is updating its Parks and Recreation Master Plan and launching a Community and Aquatics Centre Feasibility Study. Learn more in the full media release here.