The Municipality of Chatham-Kent is inviting public comment on an update to the current policy and ongoing practices managing how time at arenas, sport fields, ball diamonds, and sport courts is allocated to user groups.
“We use the allocation policy as an important tool to ensure playable hours are distributed to groups fairly and consistently while also making sure our facilities are being used to the best of their ability,” said Ian Clark, Manager, Parks, Recreation and Cemeteries, in a press release.
“These facilities are expensive public assets so our ultimate goal is to ensure the groups who are using them, and the way they are being used, is maximizing the facility’s benefit to the whole community.”
Members of the public are encouraged to complete a survey or submit questions at www.letstalkchatham-kent.ca/sport-facilities-allocation-policy-update.
Submissions are due before 3 p.m. on Wednesday, March 6, 2024.
Comments will inform the development of a draft policy to be presented for further feedback later in the year.
The new Sport Facilities Allocation Policy is expected to combine an updated Ice Allocation Policy with a new framework governing outdoor sport facilities.
The Municipality has not previously had a formal policy consistently applied across Chatham-Kent for the allocation of time on sport fields, ball diamonds, and tennis/pickleball courts.
The Municipality issues permits to more than 150 seasonal groups for over 75,000 hours across 80 facilities each year.
