User 672883•1 year ago The following are our recommendations based on your master initiatives. Please feel free to contact us for any clarifications. Ellen and Gordon Webb
26 . Construct 11 new outdoor tennis and pickleball courts. Consider constructing dedicated tennis and pickleball facilities.
Proposed Recommendation
Currently space for pickle ball is limited for seniors. In order to increase available of courts low cost alterations to existing tennis courts could accommodate the increased need for pickleball. GWSA recommends the city modify existing tennis courts with retracting poles to accommodate lowering the nets for pickleball, and add lines to accommodate changes for the court alignment.
28. Investigate the implementation of a multi-use outdoor sport facility with boards to accommodate ice hockey, ball hockey and lacrosse
In page 57 of the Master plan the following recommendations were made:
Seniors’ outdoor activation toolkit A partnership between Wood Green Community Services, 8 80 Cities and over 100 seniors delivered fun and interactive programs in several parks and public spaces in Toronto’s east side. This included repurposing covered ice rinks, dormant in the summer, into shaded oases for seniors’ Zumba© classes, and transforming an old shuffleboard slab into an accessible space for a drum circle. These adaptive reuses of space helped show that programming for seniors can and should take place outdoors to maximize health benefits and underlined the need for investment in parks and public spaces to meet their needs.
Proposed Recommendation
Since the activities outlined in the cities master plan occur on evenings and weekends, these proposed facilities could also be adjusted to accommodate seniors during the day when they are presently not fully utilized. This would maximize utilization of the resources. Repurpose skating rinks to create court facilities. This will provide additional locations throughout the city to accommodate various sports such as pickleball and walking programs. Include this in the GWSA CBA.
44. Regularly update the City’s website with detailed information on amenities, type of experience, pathway surface material, and playground surface material in each park.
Proposed Recommendation
These amenities should take into consideration our aging population and issues concerning access and egress for people with restricted mobility. Many seniors are unable to access certain recreational amenities due to mobility issues not presently considered for seniors. This should also include the distance to and from parking lots, number of parking spaces, and pathways to the courts.
45. Improve services through more effective use of technology and available data. Continue to improve data collection through the use of digital benchmarking tools, data management and reporting standards.
46. Develop digital tools and strategies that help people find and explore Guelph’s parks and open spaces
51. Investigate the need and practicality of a booking system for drop-in rentals of court sports. Consider an online option for booking and viewing court availability and tools to communicate this at the facilities.
71. Collect registration data from user groups to better understand community use and demand for indoor recreation facilities.
All of these items were highlighted in the City’s master plan under Digital divide:
For a variety of reasons, including affordability, digital literacy and attitudes towards technology, many older adults do not prioritize and/or have access to digital tools and communication, often leaving them disconnected from their families and their community. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this digital divide became even more problematic as community gatherings and social connections moved almost exclusively online, isolating those without access to technology or the skills to use it. That said, as baby boomers and generation X move into older adulthood, a second seniors’ cohort, one that is digitally literate, is emerging, requiring balance in recreation and civic planning to ensure services and cities are designed with these diverse needs and abilities in mind
Proposed Recommendation
Many seniors have expressed concerns regarding accessing city data bases. Many seniors have expressed that they are not user friendly. Using these services can be daunting for the computer illiterate. Many seniors simply give up and are isolated due the challenges of accessing program information digitally. The city needs to consult the GWSA membership to reduce barriers to the seniors accessing programs remotely.
57. Develop a decision-making framework that outlines the process for evaluating and responding to special requests received from the community.
Proposed Recommendation
This decision making process must involve existing programs and Community Benefit Agreements. GWSA has experienced issues with cancelled programs due to booking oversights by the city. Twenty-eight percent of the city’s population is seniors and should not have their programs pre-empted to accommodate other users.
60. Continue to monitor and respond to trends and the ever-changing definition of recreation to ensure programming for diverse audiences in Guelph.
Proposed Recommendation
The GWSA Board of Directors will take an active role in reminding the city of the needs of seniors. We currently have members sitting on various City Sport’s Committees to ensure its voice is heard.
61. Develop a Recreation Promotions strategy, incorporating multiple formats, translation of materials, and community outreach, to complement the department’s current online catalogue.
Proposed Recommendation
Through the Sentinel (GWSA’s monthly newsletter) GWSA provides written material to accommodate Older Adults who have difficulty accessing digital information. The City should reintroduce hard copies of their Community Activity guides to provide access to all programs in a written format. This will help to decrease the digital divide issue highlighted earlier in this report and include seniors in joining any programs, not just those available through the GWSA (examples, swimming lessons or activities at other locations).
70. Develop and implement a Recreation Facility Optimization Strategy to maximize use and potential of existing City Recreation facilities.
Proposed Recommendation
The GWSA will negotiate to expand its CBA to incorporate more city facilities and ensure that seniors have access to more venues closer to their homes. GWSA users require space during the day and the Evergreen centre is currently unable to accommodate all programming due to space constraints. An expanded CBA to other facilities such as the Victoria Road Centre will provide optimizations of space and time throughout the city.
75. Initiate a Recreation staffing model assessment and employee training and incentive programs to identify efficiencies and strategic opportunities to address program and service level vulnerabilities.
Proposed Recommendation
This training must include information regarding the GWSA programs as there is a definite issue regarding rotating staff not being fully aware of GWSA programming and the special needs.
76. Continue to explore creative partnerships to increase qualified staffing levels and support the professional and/or academic development of Recreation staff.
Proposed Recommendation
GWSA volunteers were very active partners with the city prior to CoVid. This has since diminished and should be evaluated as a viable option to staffing the Evergreen Centre and in the future the South End Community Centre.
79. Investigate including free “try-it” activities as part of Welcome to Guelph Program.
Proposed Recommendation
GWSA currently engages, successfully in this initiative. Senior adults considering an activity have an opportunity to attend three sessions prior to signing up. The city should consult with GWSA Board members who can provide recommendations for proceeding with this initiative.
81. Continue to provide recreation programming in schools and other community spaces to increase the reach and geographic distribution of City recreation services.
Proposed Recommendation
The GWSA can be an active participant with the city in ensuring that this recommendation can be implemented.
This should include Intergenerational programs organized by the GWSA such as Tea n Tales, drama programs, Story telling, Line Dancing, etc.
As an Outreach from present GWSA programs, GWSA members have already connected with the Shelldale Centre to perform for pre-schoolers and has run a musical instrument (percussion and ukulele), and a musical theatre program at Edward Johnson PS. The Silvertones have sung at various venues in the City.
83. Continue to explore partnerships and collaborations focused on expanding and enhancing recreation opportunities for the community.
Proposed Recommendation
GWSA Program is willing to work with the city to discuss these options and implement expansion to other city facilities. This will also provide increased access and interactions for more senior adults throughout the city.
92. Continue work outlined in the Older Adult Strategy and implement seniors-driven initiatives to maintain Guelph’s designation as an Age Friendly Community
Proposed Recommendation
References to CoVid should be removed and the information updated. The GWSA Board should work closely with the city to adopt and update strategy. A needs assessment survey should be conducted in consultation with the city. It should consider budget, availability of space and location expansion within the city’s overall recreational plan. Our current Red Cross Grant could be utilized toward implementation of the various recommendations.
93. Improve geographic distribution of older adult programs to ensure programs are offered throughout the whole city.
Proposed Recommendation
GWSA will work toward expanded use of various facilities throughout the city when negotiating its CBA. The city has been helpful in accommodating the GWSA and this should be expanded throughout the city. . The recommendation to develop the SECC as a south end facility to service older adults should be pursued as a viable recommendation to ensure our aging population has facilities throughout the city. See 94 below
94. Investigate designating the South End Community Centre as a Seniors Active Living Centre.
Proposed Recommendation
GWSA Board to continue to pursue designating the SECC as a seniors active living centre and expand GWSA’s CBA to include Victoria Road and indoor walking facilities at the Guelph Sports Dome.
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