Official Community Plan

C

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COURTENAY TODAY

Nearly all residents – approximately 98% of them – are within a 10 minute walk of a public park. This is a tremendous asset for a city of people who identify parks, trails, and other green spaces among the most valued attributes of Courtenay. Courtenay’s Parks and Recreation Master Plan 2019 identifies future needs for the community, with directions centring around eight goals: improving connectivity; fostering a healthy and active community; providing access for all; connecting parks and recreation with culture; protecting and enhancing beauty; protecting and enhancing the environment; enhancing communication and partnerships; and practicing sound financial management.

The community engagement results for this OCP process emphasized and complemented these priorities, including an identified need for parks programming, more recreational programming for seniors in particular, improving park and trail connectivity, and protecting and enhancing access to the estuary, creeks, and rivers. The experience of the COVID-19 pandemic has further underscored the importance of access to inclusive and diverse indoor and outdoor recreational programs, multi use accessible facilities, and public outdoor spaces to community well-being, and has reinforced their role as a unifying feature of Courtenay’s identity and quality of life.

PART C Thematic Policies