Project Background

As the Cobourg community continues to evolve, there is a need to refresh and amalgamate the Parks Master Plan (2013) and the Recreation Strategy and Implementation Plan (2016) into an aligned, long-range plan that will support the continued development of a healthy, active, and engaged community.

Parks and recreational facilities are integral to community well-being, providing accessible and cost-effective leisure opportunities to all residents to remain physically and socially healthy.

With Cobourg’s setting on Lake Ontario, strong heritage character, and role as a regional hub, the Town is at a key moment in its development as a welcoming and connected community. The Parks and Recreation Master Plan will be a framework for ensuring that parks and recreation spaces reflect current and future needs to serve a broad spectrum of community members while ensuring fiscal sustainability through a clear set of action items and cost allocation estimates.

The Parks and Recreation Master Plan will be used as a framework to provide direction on Cobourg’s parks, recreation and sport facilities, open spaces, and service delivery over the next 10 years to 2036. The Plan will align with existing plans and policies to guide policy development and service delivery, prioritize demands and opportunities, and assess facilities, amenities, programs, events, and partnerships based on existing and emerging needs.

The project team's analyses will consider a range of data and research sources including projected growth, demographic changes, on-site observations, emerging trends in parks and recreation, and input from the community. The Plan may include recommendations for revitalized park spaces, enhanced recreational facilities, new program offerings, and more.

Project Progress

The Town of Cobourg engaged thinc design (Toronto-based landscape architecture and planning firm) to support the development of a Parks and Recreation Master Plan.

Beginning in Fall 2025, the Cobourg community was encouraged to meet with the consulting team at an in-person Community Workshop and share feedback through an online survey open to everyone. A telephone survey was administered to landlines as well as cell phone-only households to capture a statistically representative sample of community needs and interests, including users and non-users of parks, facilities, and programs. The consulting team also conducted engagement activities with Town Council, municipal staff, and community partners, organizations, and groups that use parks and recreation facilities including sports leagues, seniors, and youth.

A Consultation & Engagement Summary Report was presented to Council in January 2026 and is found in the Parks and Recreation Master Plan’s Appendices.

The draft Parks and Recreation Master Plan is ready for review. It is divided into four needs assessments:

  • Parks and Open Spaces
  • Indoor and Outdoor Recreation Facilities
  • Programs and Events
  • Service Delivery

Within each of the assessments are recommendations to guide the Town over the next 10 years. The consulting team developed these recommendations based on-site observations, usage data, facility schedules, municipal goals, feedback from the community, related plans and policies, discussions with staff, comparator municipalities, and emerging trends.

To read the Appendices, CLICK HERE.

Now that a draft Master Plan has been written, the team is seeking feedback on its recommendations.

Explore and Engage