In June, the GCA Board passed a Parks Committee motion to provide the City of Ottawa with its feedback on the City of Ottawa’s first-ever combined Parks and Recreation Facilities Master Plan (PRFMP) in support of the new Official Plan (OP). The draft PRFMP contains recommendations about new and existing parks and recreation facilities to meet Ottawa’s projected growth by 2031 and will go to the Community and Protective Services Committee and City Council in September, 2021.
The motion urges the city to follow best practices for climate sustainability, health and urban liveability,heritage protection, and increase the amount of parkland and green space in areas facing increased intensification; and decries the reduction in green parkland per/capita targets, amenities and facilities in the face of plans to reduce private setbacks/greenspace while increasing density. The motion contains detailed recommendations that would facilitate the creation of more micro-parks in inner urban parks using Cash in Lieu of Parkland (CILP) funds.