Local residents and user groups affiliated with sports in C-K are being asked to provide input regarding how time slots are allocated at arenas, sport fields, ball diamonds and sports courts.
Ian Clark, manager of parks, recreation and cemeteries, said the municipality is looking to assess ongoing time allocation practices as a new Sports Facilities Allocation Policy is in the works. To date, Chatham-Kent has not had a formal policy in place that can be consistently applied across the municipality for allocating time on sports fields, ball diamonds and tennis/pickleball courts.
“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,” Clark said in a media 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 may offer comments – or ask questions – at letstalkchatham-kent.ca. Deadline for submissions is March 6 by 3 p.m.
Officials said the comments will help in the development of a draft policy to be presented for further feedback later in the year.
More than 150 seasonal groups use 80 C-K facilities each year, exceeding 75,000 hours of use.
