by Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative
For nearly two-years, the Town of Amherstburg and the Town of Essex have been developing a Master Plan for Co-An Park in McGregor, a multi-year document that will help guide future development of the park.
Both towns co-own the 40-acre site established in 1977, and contribute to its maintenance. It currently houses an array of amenities, such as six baseball diamonds, three soccer fields, two tennis courts, playground equipment, washrooms, pavilion and canteen, walking paths, and the Essex County Steam and Gas Engine Museum, the Report to Essex Council Jake Morassut, Director of Community Services, created on the matter.
At its August 12 meeting, Essex Council gave approval to the Master Plan for Co-An Park, and further directed administration to update and negotiate the agreements that govern the operational use, capital investment, service delivery and programming of Co-An Park with the Town of Amherstburg. That will include any sub-agreements required with the Essex County Steam and Gas Engine Museum and the Co-An Park Board, which is comprised of volunteer members of both municipalities.
Amherstburg Council will also have to approve the plan and agreements.
In November of 2022, Essex and Amherstburg kicked-off the Master Plan project by hosting an open house and online survey to garner public feedback, giving residents, facility users, and members of the Co-An Park Advisory Committee an opportunity to weigh-in on what site features and amenities they believed would enhance the facility.
There were 321 responses to the first survey, of which 57 percent were from Amherstburg, 35.8 percent were from Essex, and the remainder were from other communities.
The more popular requested amenities included the desire to add a playground and splashpad, Director of Parks, Facilities, Recreation, and Culture for Amherstburg, Heidi Baillargeon, explained previously.
The first survey noted that if respondents could make one improvement to Co-An Park it would be a playground/splashpad, updated facilities/maintenance, sports and lighting, bike lane, sidewalks, walking paths, parking, pickleball, trees/garden, social events, a dog park, then a pool.
In May of 2023, the future of McGregor’s Co-An Park was discussed with members of the Co-An Park Advisory. Further, In April of this year, an additional open house was held in McGregor, which outlined the survey results to the community and solicited additional feedback.
Morassut noted feedback collected by both municipalities was used to develop the Co-An Park Master Plan.
“We had a lot of good, positive feedback and some good amendments that were brought forward, and recommendations from the public and the Co-An Park [Advisory Committee] Board members,” Morassut noted. “All of that was taken into consideration as we went through and created this plan.”
He added the Master Plan is a conceptual design, so nothing is concrete, but will be a guiding document that provides a plan and allows the two towns to budget for the improvements outlined.
Any time a capital project is planned, it will go back to both Councils for budget allocation for approval.
Councillor Kim Verbeek, who sits on the Co-An Park Advisory Committee, was happy to hear the plan is conceptual. She reached out to the Co-An Committee before the Master Plan was brought forward to Essex Council. She said they were pleased to see some of the last-minute suggestions they brought forward were implemented and put into the conceptual drawings.
“Everybody is anxious to finally get this first step [for] the park moving, after we adopt this Master Plan,” Verbeek said, thanking Councils and the administrative teams from both towns for getting traction on the file.
With a playground being a top desire for the park, the Town of Essex will work with the Town of Amherstburg on the RFP process. The final design will then be brought back to Council for final approval, Morassut noted.
In the 2024 Capital Budget for the Town of Essex, $200,000 was approved for a new playground at Co-An Park in a 50/50 partnership with the Town of Amherstburg. Morassut said Amherstburg was just trying to finalize the concept plan with its Council before it was ready to start on the design.
Morassut hopes the playground would be ready and installed for an early start in 2025.
In his report to Council, Morassut noted the Essex County Steam and Gas Engine Museum and associated buildings on site have a 20-year lease with the Town of Essex in the amount of $1.00 per year. The lease term began July 2008 and expires June 30, 2028, with the right to renew the operating agreement for a second term.
The agreements and by-laws that currently govern the use, maintenance, and recreational operation of Co-An Park need to be updated and/or amended to meet the changing needs of the community and current legislative and municipal requirements, it adds in his report.
“Operational requirements, regulations, and municipal standard practices have changed dramatically over the years. In order to remain current and to minimize any potential risks and liability to both municipalities, administration is recommending that all agreements that govern the use and operation of the park be updated,” Morassut wrote.
The report further highlights Administration will work closely with all parties, including the Co-An Park Board and the Steam and Gas Engine Museum, to ensure changes in legislation, current municipal standards, policies, and by-laws are captured, while ensuring the continuity and consistency of service delivery is upheld.