Should South Frontenac build a Pickle Ball Palace or a bowling alley?

Jeff Green | Jun 08, 2016

Let the township know what you think

The South Frontenac Recreation Committee is working on a new version of its five-year plan, but this time instead of simply discussing it at a meeting, they are going out to the public in the form of an online survey that can be accessed at the township website, southfrontenac.net.

The survey, which does not take much time to fill out, asks residents where they live and what sports they are interested in. It also asks the blue sky question: “If money were no object, what types of facilities, services or new amenities would you like to see in the township?”

That's where the bowling alley, pickle ball facility and indoor pool come in.

Tim Laprade, the township recreation co-ordinator, set up the survey.

“We want to find out what people are doing, how they get around. There is a lot of opportunity in the survey to produce feedback that will help the committee decide what they want to recommend to Council,” he said.

The survey also asks whether residents would be willing to add a donation towards a recreation fund as part of their tax bill, and whether they think that user fees are adequate or should be decreased.

“It will make for a better discussion at the committee if we know what the residents really want us to look at,” said Laprade.

In addition to ideas about new facilities, the committee wants to know if residents are concerned about the condition of some of the existing parks and other facilities in the township. The survey also asks about transportation issues, to see how many residents are able to access services in nearby villages by bicycle or on foot.

The survey has already been well received. It was launched on May 30 and has been promoted through email to recreation groups in the township and through the Frontenac Arena's social media platforms. As of Tuesday, 321 people had filled it out, and Laprade is now hoping to see at least 500 surveys filled out, or more.

It will remain available on the township website until mid-August and will also be available in paper form at events this summer for people who are not inclined to or able to fill out an online survey. It will also be promoted through an insert in the next tax bill.

Once the results are tabulated, the recreation committee will consider them when they meet in September.

(There are three recreation events set for this Sunday, June 12 in South Frontenac – Cycle Fest at Prince Charles School in Verona from 11-3, and the Third Annual Frontenac Fury Run at the Arena starting at 9am, with “Hockey Day in the Frontenacs” to follow starting at noon. See Northern Happenings for details)