Budget Allocation for 2024 Recreation and Cultural Needs Assessment Approved

Council Approves Budget Allocation for 2024 Recreation and Cultural Needs Assessment

Needs Assessment to inform future community planning

STRATHMORE, Alberta | March 11, 2024 - Council approved a Capital Budget request for $60,000 to complete a Recreation and Culture Needs Assessment at the March 6^th Regular Meeting of Council. Funded from the Fiscal Stabilization Reserve, the Needs Assessment will provide Council and Administration with a point of reference that will help inform future planning, resource allocations (capital and operating), and potential partnership discussions with other municipalities and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

To support the 2019 Town of Strathmore Recreation and Culture Master Plan, this report will engage the public and key stakeholders, provide a comparative analysis of other communities similar in size and character, and current trends in recreation in the Province and Canada.

“The Needs Assessment provides a prudent and fiscally responsible approach that ensures Council is making informed sustainable decisions surrounding recreational and cultural improvements by looking critically at existing infrastructure, facilities, and programming in Strathmore and the surrounding area to determine potential gaps, duplications, and redundancies in assets and services.” said Pat Fule, Mayor of the Town of Strathmore.

“The Needs Assessment will help Administration understand and prioritize the community's present and future recreation and cultural needs.” said Mark Pretzlaff, Director of Community and Protective Services.

The data provided by the report will be utilized to establish prioritization criteria to ensure resources are properly allocated and will consider factors such as community accessibility, social inclusion, operational, financial impacts, partnership opportunities, and expected economic impact.

For more information about the 2024 Recreation and Cultural Needs Assessment and the 2019 Town of Strathmore Recreation and Culture Master Plan, please visit https://strathmore.ca/en/town-hall/transparency-and-reports.aspx.