Council approves implementation plan’s approach for recreation and culture planning and delivery over next 12 years

Today, Strathcona County Council approved the 12-year implementation plan’s approach for the Recreation and Culture Strategy. The action-focused plan details how the Strathcona County will prioritize and invest in recreation and culture opportunities available for everyone over the short, medium and long-term.

“Our vision is to create Canada’s most livable community,” says Mayor Rod Frank. “The Recreation and Culture Strategy Implementation Plan is a shining example of creating an actionable, researched and community-driven plan that clearly establishes priority recreation and culture investments over the next 12 years.

Council is especially appreciative for our advisory committee members, including committee co-chair Mr. Rob Lougheed, who helped provide insight and expertise during the strategy and implementation plan formation.”

Strathcona County’s approach to recreation and culture focuses on five key areas: community need, inclusion, building capacity, environmental stewardship and fiscal responsibility. The 12-year implementation plan is a detailed follow-up to the overall Recreation and Culture Strategy, approved by Council on October 8, 2019.

The top five prioritization results for indoor recreation and culture needs include indoor fields, museum and archives spaces, gymnasiums, performing arts theatres and multi-purpose court spaces. The current exploration of a new indoor multi-use fieldhouse is based on the implementation plan’s prioritization for indoor field space, gymnasium/court space and fitness track development for community recreational use. To find out more about the proposed indoor multi-use fieldhouse, visit strathcona.ca/fieldhouse.

The top five prioritization results for outdoor recreation and culture needs include picnic areas/structures, event grounds, dog off-leash areas, amphitheatre/bandstands and natural areas.

The community is encouraged to choose the priorities relevant to their/organization’s goals and aspirations and develop their own implementation plan. The Recreation and Culture Strategy’s outcomes are best achieved when everyone works together towards the same vision while learning and collaborating with each other to meet the shared goal of ensuring everyone has opportunity to engage in recreation and culture.

Visit strathcona.ca/recreationculture or call 780-467-2211 to find out more about the implementation plan and approach.

Set in the centre of Alberta’s energy and agricultural heartland, Strathcona County is a thriving, successful and vibrant community of over 98,000 residents. Strathcona County is made up of the urban area of Sherwood Park and a large adjacent rural area of farms, acreages and smaller hamlets. It is home to 75 per cent of hydrocarbon processing in Western Canada. Strathcona County is a leader in environmental conservation, and 55 per cent of its land is within the UNESCO Beaver Hills Biosphere. With a focus on economic, governance, social, cultural and environmental sustainability, Strathcona County is committed to balancing the unique needs of its diverse community.

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Contact: Strathcona County Communications, 780-410-6595