Parks Strategic Plan Public Survey

Barrie’s population is expected to reach 298,000 people by 2051. While Barrie is proud of its 850+ acres of parkland , it’s time to plan for the future. This will ensure every resident has access to nature close to home and the health, recreation, and quality of life of residents are supported.

The Barrie Parks Strategic Plan is meant to prepare for growth and changing trends in play, sports, and recreation interests across the city. Imagine what’s possible. What does the future of Barrie’s parks look like for you and your family?

The survey will take approximately 10 minutes to complete. It will be open until March 22, 2026. If you prefer to complete a paper version, please contact the project manager to request a copy.

Survey participants may be eligible for a chance to win one of the following prizes*:

$150 pre-paid credit card
recPass Membership (valid for three months) Four available to win

*Prize rules and regulations: Winner must be a city of Barrie resident. City of Barrie staff can participate but are not eligible to win.

Hard copies of the survey are available upon request. Please email wendy.loevenmark@barrie.ca or call 705-726-4242 to request a hard copy.

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The park I use the most often is (click here for a map reference or if you don’t know the exact name, please describe the location as best as you can with street names under the "other" option)

Select option

When I am at these parks, my favourite things to do are (check all that apply):

Enjoy nature

Hang out with my friends

Meditate, read

Play a sport (on the field or using the court)

Walk, run, jog, skate, ski or snowshoe

Use the playground and splash pad/water play

Use fitness equipment

Walk my dog

Other (please specify)

I often use these parks because (check all that apply):

They're close to my home

I feel safe

It's easy to travel to

They have amenities that I need (e.g. washroom, parking, tables, seating area, shaded structure, etc)

It has certain features that I can't find in other parks (e.g. skateboarding area, pump track, more natural areas for meditation, accessible play features, etc)

Other (please specify)

I am usually visiting these parks: (other than to participate in organized sports)

More than once a week

Once a week

Once or twice a month

Once every few months

Once or twice a year

Less than once a year

To get to these parks, I usually:

Bike

Bus

Drive

Walk

Other (please specify)

The amenities that I would prioritize in a park are: (rank from 1 as most important to 7 as least important)

Bike parking

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Digital community boards

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Emergency call stations

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Lighting

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Washrooms

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Water bottle fill stations

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Wi-Fi

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From my perspective and background (e.g. culture, age, identity, abilities, lived experience), here are my thoughts on how parks could be designed to help me feel more included:

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If the City was building a new park near me, here is what I would want them to know about my neighbourhood:

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For me, the most important ways of incorporating nature in a park are: (rank from most important (1) to least important (5))

Having a large variety of plantings and different species to improve habitats

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Helping with environmental and stewardship activities (e.g. tree plantings and park clean-ups)

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Incorporating plantings and structures in the park that can help with extreme heat and rain (e.g. shade structures and water play features for cooling, softer surfaces and plantings for flood prevention, etc)

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Participating in outdoor education (e.g. display boards that tell me more about the trees, taking part in a program to learn about ecosystems)

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Restoring parks to improve the ecosystem and habitats (e.g. removing invasive plants, helping add native plants)

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Using the park to unplug and unwind (e.g. going for a walk, sitting on a blanket and meditating, sitting on a bench and being in nature)

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10.

What is a park that is not in Barrie that you think we should consider as an example of a great park? If you know, what is its name and what city is it in? What features does it have that you enjoy?

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