About the Parks, Culture & Active Living Master Plan
Over the past two decades, Cochrane has grown rapidly, and the demand for parks, culture and active living opportunities has grown alongside it. The Parks, Culture and Active Living Master Plan provides a 15-year roadmap to guide future investment in parks, recreation facilities, programs and cultural initiatives, supporting the vision of Envision Cochrane 2050.
Developed through research, an assessment of current services and facilities, and extensive community engagement, the Plan helps ensure future decisions are informed by community needs and positioned to support a healthy, connected and vibrant Cochrane.
The Plan identifies future priorities for parks, recreation facilities and community spaces while ensuring the Town continues to maintain and renew existing infrastructure. Priorities include expanding trails, parks, recreation amenities and community facilities as Cochrane grows.
Protecting Cochrane's natural spaces
Protecting parks, open spaces, wildlife habitat and the urban tree canopy remains a key priority, ensuring residents continue to enjoy the natural landscapes that define Cochrane.
Supporting active, healthy communities
The Plan aims to make recreation more accessible by reducing barriers to participation, expanding inclusive programming and creating more opportunities for residents of all ages and abilities to stay active and connected.
Recommendations
Recommendation
Focus area
Page in Master Plan
Incorporate the Town's strategic intentions for parks, culture and active living investment in all related Town planning and policy development, including Partner relationships.
Strategic clarity
30, 112
Continue supporting community organizations through existing grant programs and create a new capital fund that allows the Town to be a meaningful partner when significant infrastructure opportunities arise.
Funding community efforts
31, 113
Continue to foster connection and communication within the parks, culture and active living community in Cochrane.
Leadership
32, 114
Encourage and support Partners and community groups to align with and advance the Town's PCAL strategic intentions.
Influencing activity
34, 115
Foster a learning culture by supporting ongoing professional development and training for Town staff, delivery partners and volunteers across the parks, culture and active living sector.
Expertise and skill development
35, 116
Gather data that explains the current and expected future state of the parks, culture and active living context in Cochrane and share it with all relevant contributors on a regular basis.
Data
37, 117
Build and strengthen the network of community partners who share in the responsibility for delivering parks, culture and active living programs, services and infrastructure in Cochrane.
Partnerships
38, 118
Continuously monitor community demand for parks, culture and active living opportunities and work with partners to address gaps before the Town steps in as a direct provider.
Filling gaps
41, 119
Recommendation
Focus area
Page in Master Plan
Continue to practice and strengthen prudent asset management protocols.
Deciding what to invest in
45, 120
Apply the Site Selection Criteria as a consistent decision-making tool when evaluating locations for future parks, culture and active living infrastructure.
Site Selection for PCAL infrastructure
51, 121
Initiate planning and investment in new indoor PCAL infrastructure as opportunities for investment are identified and capacity exists.
Indoor PCAL infrastructure
54, 122
Adopt and incorporate the four outdoor space typologies into the planning, design, operations and maintenance of all outdoor PCAL spaces.
Outdoor PCAL infrastructure
61, 123
Initiate planning and investment in new outdoor PCAL infrastructure as opportunities for investment are identified and capacity exists.
Outdoor infrastructure priorities
66, 124
Recommendation
Focus area
Page in Master Plan
Reduce barriers to participation
Active living services and program priorities
75,125
Strengthen community events and celebrations
Active living services and program priorities
77, 126
Expand drop-in and unstructured opportunities
Active living services and program priorities
79, 127
Monitor trends and respond to emerging opportunities
Active living services and program priorities
81, 128
Recommendation
Focus area
Page in Master Plan
Make Cochrane a culturally vibrant place to live.
Arts & culture priorities
85, 129
Maximize economic development potential of arts and culture
Arts & culture priorities
88, 130
Improve sustainability of the arts and culture sector
Arts & culture priorities
90, 131
Recommendation
Focus area
Page in Master Plan
Grow and sustain Cochrane's tree canopy
Green & open spaces priorities
95, 132
Protect wildlife habitat and biodiversity
Green & open spaces priorities
98, 133
Manage public art as a community asset
Green & open spaces priorities
101, 134
Recommendation
Focus area
Page in Master Plan
Require maximum allowable reserve contributions when land development occurs to ensure parks, culture and active living infrastructure service levels do not deteriorate due to growth.
Funding
105, 135
Maximize local improvements and off-site levies during land development to ensure parks, culture and active living service levels do not deteriorate due to growth.
Funding
105, 136
Utilize dedicated tax levies to pay for parks, culture and active living infrastructure renewal and for the development of new amenities to meet need and protect existing service levels.
Taxes
106, 137
Monitor the availability of and apply for relevant grant opportunities.
Grants
108, 138
Plan highlights
Investing in parks and recreation
The Plan identifies future priorities for parks, recreation facilities and community spaces while ensuring the Town continues to maintain and renew existing infrastructure. Priorities include expanding trails, parks, recreation amenities and community fac
Protecting Cochrane's natural spaces
Protecting parks, open spaces, wildlife habitat and the urban tree canopy remains a key priority, ensuring residents continue to enjoy the natural landscapes that define Cochrane.
Supporting active, healthy communities
The Plan aims to make recreation more accessible by reducing barriers to participation, expanding inclusive programming and creating more opportunities for residents of all ages and abilities to stay active and connected.
