As work continues to draft a Canatara Park Master Plan, city council is being asked to move some concept plans forward on Monday.
It is recommended council direct staff to move beach volleyball court plans forward, work with the Seaway Kiwanis Club on requirements for a new storage unit, and work with a third-party to plan the removal of Thrasher Building (the barn picnic shelter at the animal farm) due to significant infrastructure concerns.
Mayor Mike Bradley thinks the requests are reasonable.
"These are doable recommendations out of the overall plan, which will be coming to council but will not be acted on until there's further discussion with the public, probably this fall," said Bradley.
Residents were given the chance to review proposed plans and provide feedback during public information sessions earlier this week.
Work on the official master plan started in April.
"There's a great deal of interest on the environmental side, on what other steps should be taken at the park, should anything else be added to it," he said. "My own priority is to deal with the bandshell and picnic pavilions, which I believe need to be upgraded. But, as to adding new commercial activities there... that gives me grave concern."
Bradley said it's important to remember there's still a long way to go in the planning process.
"One thing that I think really needs to stand out, when we go through this process as a council, is our support for Seaway Kiwanis and all of their efforts to keep the animal farm upgraded, moving it forward, and making sure that it's a continued tourist attraction in this area," he said.
Bradley said some reinvestment in the park is already being noticed.
"There was a million dollars in sidewalks, trails, and roadwork that happened there, which the public got to see on Canada Day," he said. "The public loves this park and it goes back to the 1930s when the city and Mrs. Hanna came together and came up with the money to buy the park. At the time it was ridiculed, however, over time this park means everything to people in Sarnia, and our job is to make sure we nurture the park, protect it environmentally and let it grow in a progressive way that the community supports."
More information on the master plan, including design options for the park, can be found here.
Sarnia council's regular meeting will be held virtually at 1 p.m.